This page is maintained by Jim Box

Frequently Asked SAS questions:

Contents:

1. Creating a SAS Dataset
2. Converting a file to a SAS Dataset
3. Sample form a Normal Distribution
4. Add a variable to a Dataset
5. Printing Graphics
6. Highlighting points that aren't together

Creating a SAS Dataset from scratch

data sasuser.example;
input SAT GPA ;
datalines;
1270 3.65 
1000 3.27
1550 3.95
 800 2.65
 920 3.05
 700 2.17
; {NOTE: this semicolon tells SAS that this is the end of the data}
run;

Converting a file to a SAS Dataset

options linesize = 130; {Or larger, as the case may be}
data name;
infile '/lorax/local/www/htdocs/courses/sta242-S96/Data/filename';
input student $ 1-10 sat gpa;
run;

NOTES:
• You must use the entire path name. If you are uncertain, and you have the data in an emacs window, just save it, and emacs will tell you exactly the pathname
• The $ tells SAS that you just named a variable that is a character string instead of numeric. The default is eight characters - if you need more, tell SAS exactly what columns to use. Be careful - get the exact columns. I usually count them in the emacs window
• Variable names are limited to eight characters, and must start with a letter.
• SAS will save this to the WORK library. To save it into the permanaent library, call up the dataset in INSIGHT, choose File ... Save-> ... Data, and select the SASUSER Library

Sampling from a Normal Distribution

data dataset name ;
mu = whatever;
sigma = whatever;
N = whatever;
do i = 1 to N;
rn = rannor(0);
y = sigma*rn + mu ;
output;
end;
run;

This dataset will be saved in the WORK library, which is temporary. To save it into the permanent library, open the file from the work directory, and in the data window choose File ... Save-< ... Data and choose the SASUSER library.

If you know ahead of time that you want to make this a permanent dataset, replace the first command in the above program with data sasuser.dataname.

Add a Variable to a Dataset

data sasuser.dataname;
set sasuser.dataname;
newvar = -1*(oldvar**-3);
run;

Printing Graphics

1. Telling SAS what to do with the file,
2. Printing from the graphics window to a UNIX file
3. Printing the UNIX file

	filename gsasfile 'boxplot';
	goptions target=ps gaccess=gsasfile gsfmode=replace noprompt;

2. Printing from the graphics window to a UNIX file:
In the graphics window, select File:Print That will save the file boxplot in your directory.

3. Printing the UNIX file:
Go over to the UNIX window and type

ls

	print boxplot

The next time you want to print something in this session, just type:

	filename gsasfile 'nameoffile';

The next time you start a SAS session, you must repeat all three steps.

Highlighting Points