SUGI 27 Professional Development and User Support

Paper 240-27
®
10 Things Experienced SAS Programmers Don’t Know – But Should
Doug Zirbel, Pinnacle Solutions Inc., Indianapolis, IN

ABSTRACT So you want to become a SAS Programmer

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&selm=88f2gg%24r60%2
Many SAS programmers have years of experience, but 41%40nnrp1.deja.com
sometimes only within a narrow set of procedures and
techniques. For this paper, numerous SAS professionals were
asked for their views. These are their recommendations for an
advanced SAS Programmer skill set.
THE TOP TEN (1= MOST IMPORTANT, 10=LEAST)
1. Macros - basic knowledge of macro language (Score=63/180)
The list covers SAS Version 6 as well as Version 8. Base SAS
Learning help:
products listed as a part of this are ODS, Proc SQL dictionary
ƒ “SAS manuals 'SAS Macro Language' and 'SAS Guide to
tables, data step, macro language, Proc Report. Each topic
Macro Processing' are the best. You will gain a lot with
includes references for further information.
playing examples in both books.”;
ƒ “'The Little SAS Book, A Primer', 2nd edition.”
ƒ "Carpenter's Complete Guide to the SAS Macro Language”

INTRODUCTION 2. Data step - basic knowledge of (60)

ƒ The Secret Life of the Data Step, by Thomas Miron
(SUGI21-26)
What makes a well-rounded, experienced SAS programmer?
3. Data file manipulation - INFILE, UPDATE, SET intricacies etc
Why do some of us get locked in to a particular SAS approach to
(59)
programming tasks? What are 10 things that experienced SAS
programmers should know well?
4. ODS - capabilities and more broadly, SAS8 improvements (53)
These questions were posed to several audiences within the past
year. The first round went to the many worldwide participants in 5. Efficiency (49)
the SAS-L discussion group. Next enlisted were a more select ƒ PDV width may be more significant than number of rows
group of the author’s professional SAS contacts. Eighteen final ƒ Sorting by character variables is more efficient than sorting
sets of responses scored on a 1-to-10 scale were tallied. Many by numeric variables
more impromptu answers as well as thoughtful essays were ƒ In terms of programming time, you’ll save a lot by getting rid
received. of the warning messages up front

Some of the suggestions were technically specific, for example, 6. Data Step Vector - how it works (47)
“the Scan function”, or Proc Report. Many others suggested ƒ The Secret Life of the Data Step, by Thomas Miron
foundational theory, such as System Life Cycle Development (SUGI21-26)
methodology. Some suggested that it is an unreasonable
question; that programming skill is specific to the industry you 7. Macros - knowing how to write macros that write SAS
work in. Still others waxed philosophical: “Programming and programs (46)
musical composition have much in common”, or “the ‘well-
rounded SAS programmers’ that I know got that way either by
8. System Development Life Cycle processes (44)
eating too much or by first learning how to do a few things well
ƒ Code Complete by Steve McConnell
and then studying alternative methods”.
9. SAS Help - How to get it (40)
This paper lists some of these potentially alternative methods.
ƒ SAS Tech Support http://www.sas.com/service/index.html
The 10 areas that appeared with most emphasis will be shown of
ƒ SAS Tech Support (919) 877-8008 (be sure to have your
course, but this will also present some of the rest in list form.
site number)
ƒ WWW newsgroup comp.soft-sys.sas
LEARNING SAS SKILLS ƒ http://groups.google.com using Advanced Group Search
Included is also guidance to answer the question, with comp.soft-sys.sas as the Group (contains archives of
the newsgroup discussions)
ƒ SAS8 Help CD
“How do I learn xyz in SAS?”
10. Proc Report (34)
In some cases specific suggestions were offered with respect to
learning the skill in question. Otherwise, general advice from
newsgroup participants can be summarized as follows

“SAS Institute offers training courses…I highly recommend”

“SAS course notes and SUGI …conference proceedings for help

first before… manuals “

My favorite is "SAS Language and Procedures".

SUGI 27 Professional Development and User Support

SAS Institute Inc. (2000), SAS Macro Language Reference,

THE NEXT 12 (RECEIVED AT LEAST 4 VOTES) Version 8, Cary NC: SAS Institute Inc.
11. SQL Dictionary tables - basics of retrieving SAS metadata
(31)
SAS Institute Inc. (1989), SAS Language and Procedures:
ƒ Data About Data: An Introduction To Dictionary Tables by Usage, First Edition, Cary NC: SAS Institute Inc.
Dilorio and Michal, SUGI21-32
12. Proc Summary/Means (28)

13. Debugging Techniques - DEBUG facility and other techniques ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

(27) Thanks to:
Allan Page
14. Proc SQL (27) Andrea Wainwright
Andy Kuligowski
15. Structured programming concepts (24) Arthur Tabachneck
Bill LeBlanc
16. Proc Format (18) Charles S. Patridge
Curtis Smith
17. Relational Database Design (18) David Cassell
Diana Kornbrot
18. Web technology - HTML, JavaScript, SAS IntrNet, etc (17) Dianne Rhodes
DJ Penix
19. Your Operating System native (and other) languages - REXX, Dwight Eggers
unix scripts, VBScript, Syncsort (17) Frank Dilorio
Frank Schiffel
20. Proc Transpose (16) Greg Woolridge
Ian Whitlock
21. Data step reports - "Data _null_" report writing (14) Jack Hamilton
Jim Loughlin
22. SCL - SCL Functions usable in e.g., Base SAS data steps John LaBore
(14) Karsten M. Self
ƒ SCL for the Rest of Us: Nonvisual Uses of Screen Control Kim LeBouton
Language by Michael L. Davis Mark Moran
Michael L. Davis
Michael S Hines
Michael Thomas
CONCLUSION Mike Rhoads
This paper lists the results of an informal survey of experienced Mike Harris
SAS programmers regarding the most important skills needed by Nancy Brucken
experienced SAS programmers. Future surveys driven by SAS Nancy Michal
programmers should include greater diversity in the sample and Paul Dorfman
possibly more explicit recommended-reading/learning questions. Pedro Gomez
Richard Palmer
REFERENCES Ronald J. Fehd
Carpenter, Art (1998), Carpenter’s Complete Guide To the SAS Scott Miller
Macro Language, Cary, NC: SAS Institute Inc. Sig Herman
Steve First
Davis, Michael L, “SCL for the Rest of Us: Nonvisual Uses of Susan Fehrer
Screen Control Language,” Observations: The Technical Journal Tom Winn
for SAS Software Users, Thomas Miron
http://www.sas.com/service/library/periodicals/obs/obswww05/ Wei Cheng
William W. Viergever
Delwiche, Lora D., and Slaughter, Susan J. (1998), The Little
SAS Book: A Primer, Second Edition, Cary, NC: SAS Institute
Inc. CONTACT INFORMATION
Your comments and questions are valued and encouraged.
Dilorio, Frank and Michal, Nancy (1996), “Data About Data: An Contact the author at:
Introduction To Dictionary Tables”, Proceedings of the Twenty- Doug Zirbel
first Annual SAS Users Group International, 21, 213-219. Pinnacle Solutions, Inc.
One North Meridian St., Suite 1010
McConnell, Steve, Code Complete (1993), Microsoft Press. Indianapolis, IN 46204
Work Phone: (317) 423-9143
Miron, Thomas (1996), “The Secret Life of the Data Step”, Fax: (same)
Proceedings of the Twenty-first Annual SAS Users Group Email: [email protected]
International, 21, 171-177. Web: http://www.psiconsultants.com

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