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Chapter 1. Basic Concepts

Overview

Introduction

To program effectively using SAS, you need to understand ...

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Overview	6
Introduction	6
Objectives	6
SAS Programs	7
Components of SAS Programs	7
Characteristics of SAS Programs	8
Layout for SAS Programs	9
Processing SAS Programs	9
Log Messages	10
Results of Processing	10
SAS Libraries	13
How SAS Files Are Stored	13
Storing Files Temporarily or Permanently	14
Referencing SAS Files	15
Two-Level Names	15
Referencing Temporary SAS Files	16
Referencing Permanent SAS Files	17
Rules for SAS Names	17
SAS Data Sets	18
Overview of Data Sets	18
Descriptor Portion	19
Data Portion	19
Observations (Rows)	20
Variables (Columns)	20
Missing Values	21
Variable Attributes	21
Name	22
Type	22
Length	23
Format	24
Informat	24
Label	25
Summary	26
Text Summary	26
Points to Remember	28
Practice	28
Quiz	29