Chapter 1: Overview
This book is written for advanced users in PROC SQL. The handling of missing values (null values) in PROC SQL is an important topic since SAS SQL handles missing values differently from the ANSI standard. Failure to take these features into account can lead to potentially undesirable results when dealing with missing values. Other topics in this book include data quality, especially with integrity constraints, as well as special features in dealing with missing values and visual analysis of geodata and distances.
Three chapters in this book are particularly important as they help you to harness the power of SAS. The chapter on macro programming, for example, describes how the listwise execution of commands can speed up work with SAS many times over, both when programming and also executing programs. Two further chapters introduce two programming alternatives: programming with hash objects, as well as FedSQL and its possibilities to put it into practice using it in the procedures FEDSQL, CAS and DS2. The chapter on performance and efficiency compiles various possibilities of how to obtain even more performance, especially when handling large amounts of data. Further chapters and sections are reserved for overviews of SQL syntax, SAS functions and routines, as well as various special features of the SAS Pass-Through Facility for selected DBMS accesses. Because this book focuses on using many specific features in SAS, it is written primarily for SAS users, as well as anybody interested in gaining a deeper insight in the power of SAS.
This book also introduces a new processing platform, Cloud Analytics Services (CAS). Section 1.2 compares several programming languages and their advantages especially in the CAS environment. For details about when to use FedSQL and when to use SQL, please see Section 7.5.
1.1 Detailed Description of This Book
Table 1.1 Quick Finder |
Chapter | Description |
1 | Overview of this book |
2 | Missing values: Definition, mode of operation, and conversion |
3 | Data quality: Integrity constraints (test rules) and audit trails, as well as finding duplicates and outliers. |
4 | Macro programming: From simple macro variables (SAS, SQL, user-defined), to helpful SAS macro programs including macros for list execution of commands or macros for retrieving system information |
5 | SQL for geodata, distances, and maps |
6 | Hashing as an alternative to SQL |
7 | FedSQL |
8 | Performance and efficiency: strategy and measures including narrowing, shortening, and compressing; sorting; and other tips and tricks including SAS dictionaries |
9 | Help, tips, and tricks |
10 | SAS syntax - PROC SQL, SAS functions, and SAS routines |
11 | References |
12 | Syntax index |
13... |
