Building Web Applications with SAS/Intrnet: A Guide to the Application Dispatcher

Contents
Overview of SAS/IntrNet and Related Technologies
	Is the Application Dispatcher a Good Fit?
	Components of SAS/ IntrNet Software
		The Application Dispatcher
		SAS Design- Time Controls
		Xplore Sample Web Application
		htmSQL
		SAS/ CONNECT Driver for Java
		SAS/ SHARE Driver for JDBC
		Tunnel Feature
	Other SAS Web Components and Technologies
		The Output Delivery System
		The Web Publishing Tools and Related Macro Tools
		SAS AppDev Studio, a SAS Applications Development Environment
		SAS
		Business Intelligence Platform
	Industry Components
		Scripting Languages
		Dynamic HTML
		Web Services
	Component- Based Architectures
	Terminology
How the SAS/IntrNet Application Dispatcher Works
	Reader Notes
Overview of the Application Dispatcher Process Flow
	Introduction
	Application Broker— Application Server Process Flow
	Process Flow Including the Load Manager
	Performance Benefits of Using the Load Manager
The Application Broker and the Load Manager
	Introduction
	Specifying Additional HTML Output
	Defining the Load Manager
		The Load Manager Command
	Defining the SAS Application Servers
		Socket Servers
		Pool Servers
		Launch Servers
	Application Broker Process Flow
		Load Manager Administrative Functions
The Application Server
	Introduction
	SAS Application Server Executives
	Application Server Sessions
		ODS and Sessions
	PROC APPSRV
		TCP/ IP Port
		Assigning Libraries
		Initiating and Terminating Requests
	Application Server Process Flow
		Application Server Functions Available to the Executing Program
		Application Server Clean- Up Processing
Communicating with the Application Dispatcher
	Introduction
	Name/ Value Pairs Defined by the User’s Request
		_ program: The SAS Program to Execute
		_ service: The Application Server to Process the Request
		_ debug: The Output to Display
		Program- Specific HTML Name/ Value Pairs
	Name/ Value Pairs Defined by the Application Broker
		Application Broker Administrative Fields
		Environment Variables
		Installation Dependent Fields
	Name/ Value Pairs Defined by the Application Server
Methods You Can Use to Access and Reference Input Parameters
	Introduction
	Accessing Parameters as Macro Variables
		Using and Referencing the Multiple Values for a Single Parameter ( the Suffix Variables)
		Using the APPSRV_ UNSAFE Function
	Accessing Parameters in SCL Programs
Various Techniques to Generate HTML
	Introduction
		The Problem with Generating Valid HTML
	Simple PUT and FILE Statements
		The generateFormTag and generateInputTag Sample Macros
	Extending the Output Delivery System
		FORM Tags Via TITLE and FOOTNOTE Statements
		Character Variables with HTML Form Text
	SCL Submit Blocks
	Including Static HTML from External Sources
		A Macro Tool to Include External HTML
	SAS Server Pages
		The SAS Server Page Macro
		Sample Server Page: List Libraries
		A Macro to Generate Data- Driven SELECT Tags
		Sample Server Page: List the Data Sets in the Selected Library
		Sample Server Page: List the Variables in the Selected Data Set
		A Macro to Generate Checkboxes for Variables in a SAS Data Set
		Program to Page Through the Selected Data Set
	SAS Design- Time Controls
Creating Pages with Mixed and Alternative Content Types
	Introduction
	Defining the Content Type to Be Generated
		Other Headers: Selected Examples
	Generating Pages with Other Content Types
		Creating a Comma- Separated Values File
		Downloading Reports and Results into Microsoft Excel
		Generating Content for Printing
		Generating Multiple Output Types at Once
	Generating Pages with Mixed Content Types: Text and Graphics
		Ensuring That the Graph Is Current
Using REQUEST INIT and REQUEST TERM to Specify Set- up and Shut- down Behavior
	Introduction
	Specifying REQUEST INIT and REQUEST TERM Programs
	Using REQUEST INIT and REQUEST TERM
		Defining Libraries and Files
		Overriding or Supplying Parameter Values
		Standard Header and Trailer Blocks
		Terminating a Request
How to Create and Use Sessions
	Introduction
	Creating a Session
	Saving or Restoring All Macro Variables
	Reconnecting to a Previous State of a Session
	Generating Friendlier Messages for Expired Sessions
	Extending Sessions
	Session INIT and TERM Programs
Tools and Techniques for Debugging
	Introduction
	Using the _ debug Parameter
	The PROC APPSRV LOG Statement
	Conditionally Generating Debugging Output
	Running Application Dispatcher Programs Using SAS Display Manager
		Special Handling for SCL Programs
	Dedicating an Application Server for Debugging
Tips for Safeguarding Security
	Introduction
	The Application Server Environment
		Limiting Which Application Brokers Can Access an Application Server
		Hiding Passwords
		Best Practices for a Secure Application Server Environment
	Controlling Access to Data and Reports
		Customizing Menu Choices
		Using AUTH= HOST
Integrating Application Dispatcher Applications with Other Applications, Products, and Environments
	Introduction
	htmSQL
		Integrating htmSQL with the Application Dispatcher
		Integrating the Application Dispatcher with htmSQL
	Single Sign- On Environments
	External Session Facilities
Maintaining an Applications Environment
	Introduction
	Supporting Development, Test, and Production Environments and Applications
		Using a Developer’s Workstation
		Distinct Services
		Distinct Brokers
		Customized INIT Program
	Metadata Approaches to Minimize Code Changes
		The getTextString Macro
Generating Static Versions of Dynamic Reports
	Introduction
	Sample Program
	Ensuring That Generated Links Function Correctly
	E- mailing Static Copies of Dynamic Reports
Simulating a Pause and Resume Capability for the Application Server
	Introduction
	Sample Implementation
		The Metadata Control Table
		The Toggle Program
		Macro to Check Status
		The HTML Templates
	Doing More with the Sample
Techniques for Handling Long-Running Processes
	Introduction
	Using the Cascading Style Sheets Display Attribute
	Using the JavaScript location. replace Function
Using Scheduled Execution to Handle Long- Running Processes
	Introduction
	Sample Implementation
	Doing More with Scheduled Execution
Handling On-Demand Long-Running Requests
	Introduction
	E- mailing Results from an On- Demand Long- Running Process
		Notifying the User
	Updating Process Status by Refreshing the User’s Browser
		Notifying the User
	The Sample Framework— Spawning a Separate SAS Session
		Sample Program to Submit a Long- Running Program— spawnSAS. source
		Sample spawnSAS Macro
		Sample Long- Running Program
	Doing More with Independent Sessions
Using Metadata-Driven Reporting to Construct Reports
	Introduction
	Sample Implementation
		The Logon Template
		The Logon Program
		Selecting the Case or Individual to Examine
		Report Components
		The assembleReport Macro
Packaging the Application Dispatcher as a Web Service
	Introduction
		The Sample . NET Client Application
		The . NET Web Service
	Using the Sample Client Application
	Final Thoughts
Index