SAS Base Programming: A Practical Guide For Beginners

If you want to follow along with me (which I would suggest), there are a few different software options out there. The google drive link is clickable in the pdf. Make sure to check out the pdf.

In this video, you will learn how to import any .txt file. Importing these types of files is a bit easier than a .csv (which I cover a bit later).

Here I show you how to import .csv files.

Usually, SAS will save your work in a work library. The work library is where SAS stores your files temporarily. If you're interested in saving it permanently, this lesson is for you.

I show you how to import SPSS files.

A quiz on how to import.

What if your data file is not separated by a blank space? What if it is separated by a dot (.) or |. I'll explain SAS default delimiters, and how to deal with such a problem!

Sometimes you want to just type your data directly in the syntax. This is logical if you have very little data, and if there is no need to import a file to SAS. I show you how to do it.

Here I show you how to create new variables with the current data that you have. Often new variables utilize current variables, so calculations are often required.

SAS is not great at dealing with data that has dates, and by default it does not present them properly, I will show you what is required to deal with this.

I talk more about how to go about creating new variables.

Sometimes you only want certain part of your data set to show up. I'll show you how this is possible in SAS. If you are in the real estate business, maybe the boss asks you to show him list of only the homes that cost more than 250k.

One of the ways to subset data is to use the WHERE Expression.

i discuss if-then conditional logic in SAS programming.

I show you two new statements..proc sort and by statements. This will inform you how to sort your data.

I'll show you how you can merge data from two different .txt files. It is super simple to do in SAS.

First, I show you how to use the keep and drop statements in SAS. If you want to reduce your data by keeping or getting rid of certain variables, I'll take you step by step to show you how. Then I show you the rename and label statements that help make your data more "clean". This includes renaming your original variables and labeling those variables.

I discuss the length statement.

Creating an enumeration or counting variable is common with survey data!

Working with data quiz.

In this article style lesson, I write a bit about Informats and Formats!

Welcome to this lecture. I thought I'd change it up a bit and give you an article lecture on input types.

In this lesson, I'm going to show you how to create or define your OWN formats. This is often neccesary, but it does not have to be difficult to understand!

Formats, Informats, Input Style Quiz

I show you how to use the rand function. This function allows you to produce a sample (random numbers) with a distribution of your choosing.

If you work with large data sets (lots of columns/rows), this lesson will be very useful. Learn about LENGTH, LENGTHC, and LENGTHN functions.

The TRIM function copies your argument(or parameter), and gets rid of trailing blanks(space).

I discuss the compress function.

If you want to convert your character variable to a numeric one (ie so you can do analysis on that variable), you have to use the INPUT function. If you want to change a numeric variable to a character one, you have to use the PUT function.

CATX function will remove both leading and trailing blanks, insert a delimiter (or separator), and return a concatenated (merged) character string.

Do you want to only return the 2nd word (John) from a variable that is storing the concacated full name of an individual ie Fisher, John. Well now you can!

The Coalesce function will return the first value that is NOT MISSING from a list of numeric arguments. I use an example where you store someone's home phone number and cell #. It's a good example as it is normal to sometimes have home number but no cell # contact, and the other way around. Well, if there is a value to return, ie at least a home number or cell are present, it will return that available number for you.

The VERIFY function is super useful for data cleaning purposes (ie picking up errors) in a data set. I'll show you one way to use it!

I show you how to use the SUBSTR function, both the right application of it (which allows you to extract a substring) and the left application (which is useful for replacing character value contents).

Quiz on Functions.

Recoding variables can be time consuming if you go variable by variable..let me show you an easier way! We utilize the do end loop.

Constructing new variables manually is a tedious process when you have many variables that you are working with..let me teach you a simpler way.

Assignment 1. You will be able to test how well you integrate the skills you have learned. Please watch the introduction to the assignment, this is critical.

Have a look at the solution once you have tried on your own.

Test if you are a SAS ninja, and if you can integrate the individual skills you have learned.

Here is the solution for Assignment # 2.

I show you the ease at which you can create a scatter plot with SAS.

The software you are using for this course may not able to perform the graphs I will show you. Nevertheless, I show you which graphs other than a scatter plot that you can do. Your place of employment will certainly have it.

Independent samples t-test is one of the more common tests that businesses and corporations do for their data analysis! I'll show you how to to run this test on SAS.

Here I show you how to perform a chi-square independent groups analysis using SAS.

The code for the next two lessons.

Learning how to create a macro variable can speed up your coding, by making it easier to modify your data.

Learning how to create a macro can give you great flexibility, and help finish your coding much quicker. Time=money.

Please read before you watch the case study.

This is part 1 of the case study.

Part 2 of the case study.

Here is the full code for the case study as it is sort of long.