Introduction

When selecting a technical book for myself I tend to choose one where there are lots of examples and sample code snippets that I can use and adapt for my own development projects. I wanted to write a ebook that I could use for reference myself, so I have tried to make sure there are code snippets wherever possible, and each code snippet in a lighter area can be extracted into an email by just clicking on it.

In particular, if you have a new question that you would like to be answered in one of the ebooks in this series, just click the "Ask ?" button at the bottom of the page, then fill in the email with your question. Note that these questions, with their answers, will be included in all relevant ebooks, e.g. questions comparing Data Steps and SQL will appear in both these ebooks.

There are currently 7 ebooks in the series:

- Data Steps: How Do You Do This in SAS?
  This ebook includes questions and answers relating to Data Steps.
- SQL: How Do You Do This in SAS?
  This ebook includes questions and answers relating to PROC SQL.
- Graphs: How Do You Do This in SAS?
  This ebook includes questions and answers relating to the classic SAS/GRAPH and the new ODS Graphics programming.
- Platforms: How Do You Do This in SAS?
  This ebook includes questions and answers relating to SAS platforms, e.g. Windows, UNIX, Linux and z/OS.
- EG: How Do You Do This in SAS?
  This ebook includes questions and answers relating to Enterprise Guide.
- Macros: How Do You Do This in SAS?
  This ebook includes questions and answers relating to SAS macros.
- Efficiency: How Do You Do This in SAS?
  This ebook includes questions and answers relating to efficient SAS programming, both for program speed and maintenance.
- More information about all the ebooks in this series, which can be obtained for a number of different devices and browsers, can be found at the following web pages:
  - HP/Palm smartphones and HP TouchPad
  - Android phones and tablets
  - Google Chrome and Chromium browsers

The following ebooks are planned to be added to the series soon:

- ODS: How Do You Do This in SAS?
  This ebook includes questions and answers relating to ODS tables, styles and destinations.
- Procedures: How Do You Do This in SAS?
  This ebook includes questions and answers relating to SAS procedures.
- Databases: How Do You Do This in SAS?
  This ebook includes questions and answers relating to database access using SAS/ACCESS, as well as more general questions to reading from and writing to databases using SAS.
- Standards: How Do You Do This in SAS?
  This ebook includes questions and answers relating to programming standards for SAS programs.

More apps for HP/Palm smartphones and HP TouchPad, Android phones and tablets, and Google Chrome and Chromium browsers can be found at:
www.hollandnumerics.com/apps

All of the eBook apps in this series can be found Android apps for Smartphones and Tablets and at How Do You Do This in SAS?: webOS app support page.
... Philip R Holland (2013)

About the Author: Philip R Holland

Philip R Holland advises a broad range of clients throughout Europe and the United States as an independent consultant and founder of Holland Numerics Ltd, a SAS technical consultancy. A SAS user since 1981, he has worked on all the major computing platforms that support SAS software, and he frequently speaks on a wide range of topics related to SAS at conferences around the globe.

He is the editor of VIEWS News, the quarterly journal of the VIEWS International SAS Programming Community, and has been a VIEWS committee member since 2002. He is a SAS Certified Advanced Programmer, a member of the British Computer Society, and a Chartered Information Technology Practitioner. You are also welcome to join his LinkedIn group, SAS Author: Philip R Holland.

He has published 3 SAS-related books,
Saving Time and Money Using SAS (print version, 2007, SAS Publishing),
Power User's Guide to SAS Programming (print and ebook versions, 2009, Lulu.com)
and
Power User's Guide to SAS Graph Templates (print and ebook versions, 2013, Lulu.com)
These can be purchased through
www.hollandnumerics.com.

More details about the author can be found at
Meet the SAS Author - Philip R Holland.

Code sample to click and email

The following code sample can be copied into an email by just clicking anywhere inside the lighter area around the code:

PROC PRINT DATA = sashelp.class;
TITLE 'Sample code';
VAR name sex age height weight;
RUN;

What is SAS

Question

What is SAS?

Answer

SAS is a programming software environment where programs, written in plain text, are interpreted and executed within that system (see www.sas.com). These programs cannot be compiled to run independently.

Other than SAS, there are a few other systems that can run SAS programs, including WPS (see www.teamwpc.com).

SAS programs are used to process large amounts of data in most business sectors, including finance, retail, healthcare, insurance and marketing.

More information can be found by reading my conference papers at www.Hollandnumerics.com/SASPAPER.HTM.