Doing More with SAS/ASSIST Software

Glossary

active table	in SAS/ASSIST software, the SAS tables specified for the given task.
analysis column	a numeric column used to calculate statistics. Usually an analysis column contains quantitative or continuous values, but this is not required.
arithmetic operators	in SAS software, the symbols (+,-, /, , and *) used to perform addition, subtraction, division, multiplication, and exponentiation in SAS expressions.
base SAS software	software that includes a programming language that manages your data, procedures for data analysis and reporting, procedures for managing SAS files, a macro facility, help menus, and a windowing environment for text editing and file management.
batch mode	a method of executing SAS programs in which you prepare a file containing SAS statements and any necessary operating system commands and submit the program to the computer's batch queue. While the program executes, control returns to your terminal. Batch mode is sometimes referred to as running in background. The job output can be written to files or printed on an output device.
button	in windowing environments, a graphical shape in a window that, when selected, results in an action. Cancel, Goback, and OK are examples of buttons. `Cancel` and `OK` are examples of buttons.
BY column	a column named in a BY statement whose values define groups of rows to process.
character column	a column whose values can contain alphabetic and special characters as well as numeric characters.
chart column	a column in the input table whose values are represented by bars, blocks, pie slices, and star spines, or whose values determine the number of bars, blocks, pie slices, and star spines.
class column	in some SAS procedures, a column used to group, or classify, data. Class columns can be character or numeric. Class columns can have continuous values, but they typically have a few discrete values that define the classifications of the column.
classification column	See class column.
column	in relational databases, a vertical component of a table containing data of a specific type and with certain attributes. A column is a set of data values that describe a given characteristic across all rows. Each column has a unique name. A column is also known as a variable in SAS terminology.
crosstabulation table	a frequency table that displays the frequency distribution for two or more columns. These tables are often referred to as two-way, three-way, or n-way tables. See also frequency table.
cumulative frequency	the total number of rows in all ranges up to and including a given range.
cumulative percent	the percentage of rows in all ranges up to and including a given range.
data set	see table.
DATA step	a group of statements in a SAS program that begins with a DATA statement and ends with either a RUN statement, another DATA statement, a PROC statement, the end of the job, or the semicolon that immediately follows instream data lines. The DATA step enables you to read raw data or other SAS tables and use programming logic to create a SAS table, write a report, or write to an external file.
data value	in the SAS data model, an element in a collection of data values that are organized and presented to the SAS System in a rectangular structure of columns and rows. A data value represents the intersection of a row and a column.
dependent column	a column whose value is determined by the value of another column or set of columns.
dialog box	a type of window that opens to prompt you for additional information, provide additional information, or ask you to confirm a request.
engine	a part of the SAS System that reads from or writes to a file. Each engine allows the SAS System to access files with a particular format. There are several types of engines.
external file	a file maintained by the host operating environment that the SAS System can read data from and route output to. External files can contain raw data, SAS programming statements, procedure output, or output created by the PUT statement. See also fileref.
fileref	a name temporarily assigned to an external file or to an aggregate storage location that identifies it to the SAS System. You assign a fileref with SAS/ASSIST software, a FILENAME statement, or an operating environment command. Do not confuse filerefs with librefs. Filerefs are used for external files; librefs are used for SAS data libraries. See also libref.
format	an instruction the SAS System uses to display or write each value of a column. Some formats are supplied by SAS software. Other formats can be written by the user with SAS/ASSIST software, the FORMAT procedure in base SAS software, or with SAS/TOOLKIT software.
frequency chart	a graphic illustration of the number of times a value or range of values for a given column occurs.
frequency count	the number of times a value or range of values for a given column occurs.
frequency table	a table that lists the values of a column and the number of rows with each value. See also crosstabulation table and frequency count.
function key	a keyboard key that can be defined to have a specific action in a specific software environment.
group column	(1) a column in the input table used to categorize chart column values into groups. (2) in the SAS/ASSIST software Design Report facility, a column that orders the detail rows in a report according to their formatted values and consolidates multiple rows that have a unique combination of values for all group columns into one row.
independent column	a column that does not depend on the value of another column; in a two-dimensional plot, the independent column is usually plotted on the x (horizontal) axis.
index	in SAS software, a component of a SAS table that enables the SAS System to access rows in the SAS table quickly and efficiently. The purpose of SAS indexes is to optimize WHERE-clause processing and facilitate BY-group processing.
informat	an instruction the SAS System uses to read raw data values to create column values. Some informats are supplied by SAS software. Other informats can be written by the user with SAS/ASSIST software, the FORMAT procedure in base SAS software, or SAS/TOOLKIT software.
interactive line mode	a method of running SAS programs in which you enter one line of a SAS program at a time at the SAS session prompt. The SAS System processes each line immediately after you press the ENTER or RETURN key. Procedure output and informative messages are returned directly to the display monitor.
label, column	a descriptive label of up to 40 characters that can be printed in the output by certain procedures instead of, or in addition to, the column name.
length, column	the number of bytes used to store each of a column's values in a SAS table.
libref	the name temporarily associated with a SAS data library.
local host	a computer on which you use a SAS session to initiate a link with a remote host. See also local session.
local session	a SAS session running on the local host. The local session accepts SAS statements and passes those that are remote-submitted to the remote host for processing. The local session manages the output and messages from both the local session and the remote session.
logical operator	an operator used in expressions to link sequences of comparisons. The logical operators are AND, OR, and NOT.
menu bar	the primary list of items in a window that represents the actions or classes of actions that can be executed. Selecting an item executes an action, opens a pull-down menu, or opens a dialog box requesting additional information.
methods of running the SAS System	standard methods of operation used to run SAS System programs. These methods are SAS/ASSIST software, display manager, interactive line mode, noninteractive mode, and batch mode.
midpoint	a value that represents one data value or the middle of a range of data values. When a midpoint represents a range of values, the algorithm used to calculate it depends on the procedure.
missing value	a value in the SAS System indicating that no data are stored for the column in the current row. By default, the SAS System prints a missing numeric value as a single period (.) and a missing character value as a blank space.
numeric column	a column that can contain only numeric values. By default, the SAS System stores all numeric columns in floating-point representation.
observation	See row.
permanent SAS table	a table that remains after the current program or interactive SAS session terminates. Permanent SAS tables are available for future SAS sessions.
PROC SQL view	a SAS table (of type VIEW) created by the SQL procedure. A PROC SQL view contains no data; instead, it stores the information required to read data values from its underlying files, which can include SAS data files, SAS/ACCESS views, DATA step views, or other PROC SQL views. When executed, a PROC SQL view's output can be a subset or superset of one or more underlying files. See also view.
pull-down menu	the list of choices that appears when you choose an item from a menu bar or from another menu.
query-expression (query)	a table-expression or multiple table-expressions that can be linked with set operators. The primary purpose of a query-expression is to retrieve data from tables, PROC SQL views, or SAS/ACCESS views. In the SQL procedure, the SELECT statement is contained in a query-expression.
raw data	data that has not been read into a SAS table.
remote host	in SAS/CONNECT software, the computer on which processing occurs when you execute a PROC DOWNLOAD, PROC UPLOAD, or other SAS statement that is executed with the RSUBMIT command or statement. The term remote describes how you interact with the SAS session running on the computer; it is not related to the physical location of the computer. See also local host and remote session.
remote session	a SAS session running in a special mode on the remote host. No output or log message are displayed on the remote host; instead, the results of a remote SAS session are transmitted back to the log and output files on the local host.
row	in relational database management systems, the horizontal component of a table. A row is a collection of data values associated with a single entity, such as a customer or state. Each row contains one data value for each column. It is also known as an observation in SAS terminology.
SAS catalog	a SAS file that stores many different kinds of information in smaller units called catalog entries. A single SAS catalog can contain several different types of catalog entries.
SAS catalog entry	a unit of information in a SAS catalog that stores data as records whose attributes vary according to the entry type. Catalog entries differ widely in content and purpose.
SAS data file	in the SAS data model, a SAS table that is implemented in a form that contains both the data values and the descriptor information. SAS data files have the type DATA.
SAS data library	a collection of one or more SAS files that are recognized by the SAS System and that are referenced and stored as a unit. Each file is a member of the library.
SAS data view	A SAS table in which the descriptor information add the rows are obtained from other files. A SAS data view contains only the descriptor and other information required to retrieve the data values from other SAS files. Both PROC SQL views and SAS/ACCESS views are considered SAS data views. SAS data views are of member type VIEW.
SAS log	a file that contains the SAS statements you have submitted, messages about the execution of your program, and in some cases, output from the DATA step and from certain procedures.
SAS name	a name whose construction follows certain rules and that can appear in a SAS statement (for example, names of columns and SAS tables). SAS names can be up to eight characters long. The first character must be a letter or an underscore. Subsequent characters can be letters, numbers, or underscores. Blanks and special characters (except the underscore) are not allowed.
SAS procedure	a program accessed with a PROC statement that produces reports, manages files, or analyzes data. Many procedures are included with the SAS System. In addition, users can write their own procedures using SAS/TOOLKIT software; these are called user-written procedures.
SAS program	a group of SAS statements that guide the SAS System through a process or series of processes.
SAS statement	a string of SAS keywords, SAS names, and special characters and operators ending in a semicolon that instructs the SAS System to perform an operation or gives information to the SAS System.
SAS table	descriptor information and its related data values organized as a table of rows and columns that can be processed by the SAS System. A SAS table can be either a SAS data file or a SAS data view.
SAS windowing environment	an interactive interface to SAS System software. Windowing environment commands can be issued by typing them on the command line, pressing function keys, or selecting items from the menu bar. Within one session, many different tasks can be accomplished, including preparing and submitting programs, viewing and printing results, and debugging and resubmitting programs.
SASUSER library	a default permanent SAS data library that is created at the beginning of your first SAS session. It contains a PROFILE catalog that stores the tailoring features you specify for the SAS System. You can also store other SAS files in this library.
selection field	the portion of a window (shown on the display as an underscore) where you can enter a short command to perform an action, such as B for browse.
selection-field command	a command that enables you to perform actions from a selection field in a window. For example, entering D in the selection field beside the name of a SAS table in the DIRECTORY window enables you to delete that SAS table.
Structured Query Language (SQL)	the standardized, high-level query language used in relational database management systems to create and manipulate database management system objects. The SAS System implements SQL through the SQL procedure.
table	(1) in relational database management terminology, a two-dimensional system representing data in rows and columns. See also SAS table. (2) In the SQL procedure, a SAS data file. See also SAS data file.
table alias	a temporary, alternate name for a table that is specified in the FROM clause. Table aliases are optionally used to qualify column names when tables are joined. See also table.
temporary SAS table	a table that exists only for the duration of the current program or interactive SAS session. Temporary SAS tables are not available for future SAS sessions.
variable	See column.
view	a definition of a virtual table. The definition is named and stored for later use. This file contains no data but describes or defines data stored elsewhere. See also DATA step view, PROC SQL view, SAS data view, and view descriptor.
view descriptor	a file created by SAS/ACCESS software that defines a subset of database management system (DBMS) data described by an access descriptor. The access descriptor describes the data in a single DBMS table.
WHERE processing	a method of conditionally selecting rows for processing in a DATA or PROC step. WHERE processing involves using a WHERE expression in a WHERE statement, a WHERE= table option, a WHERE clause, or a WHERE command.

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