SAS certification prep guide : base programming for SAS 9.

Contents
How to Prepare for the SAS Base Programming for SAS®9Exam
	Requirements and Details
		Requirements
		Exam Objectives and Updates to This Book
		Take a Practice Exam
		Registering for the Exam
		Additional Resources for Learning SAS Programming
	Syntax Conventions
Accessibility Features of the SAS  Certification Prep Guide
	Overview
	Accessibility Documentation Help
	Documentation Format
Setting Up Practice Data
	Accessing Your Practice Data
		Requirements
		Practice Data ZIP File
		Instructions
Basic Concepts
	Getting Started
	The Basics of the SAS Language
		SAS Statements
		Global Statements
		DATA Step
		PROC Step
		SAS Program Structure
		Processing SAS Programs
		Log Messages
		Results of Processing
	SAS Libraries
		Definition
		Predefined SAS Libraries
		Defining Libraries
		How SAS Files Are Stored
		Storing Files Temporarily or Permanently
	Referencing SAS Files
		Referencing Permanent SAS Data Sets
		Referencing Temporary SAS Files
		Rules for SAS Names
		VALIDVARNAME=System Option
		VALIDMEMNAME=System Option
		When to Use VALIDMEMNAME=System Option
	SAS Data Sets
		Overview of Data Sets
		Descriptor Portion
		SAS Variable Attributes
		Data Portion
		SAS Indexes
		Extended Attributes
	Chapter Quiz
Accessing Your Data
	SAS Libraries
		Assigning Librefs
		Verifying Librefs
		How Long Librefs Remain in Effect
		Specifying Two-Level Names
		Referencing Third-Party Data
		Accessing Stored Data
	Viewing SAS Libraries
		Viewing Libraries
		Viewing Libraries Using PROC CONTENTS
		Example: View the Contents of an Entire Library
		Example: View Descriptor Information
		Example: View Descriptor Information Using the Varnum Option
	Chapter Quiz
Creating SAS Data Sets
	Referencing an External Data File
		Using a FILENAME Statement
		Defining a Fully Qualified Filename
		Referencing a Fully Qualified Filename
	The IMPORT Procedure
		The Basics of PROC IMPORT
		PROC IMPORT Syntax
		Example: Importing an Excel File with an XLSX Extension
		Example: Importing a Delimited File with a TXT Extension
		Example: Importing a Space-Delimited File with a TXT Extension
		Example: Importing a Comma-Delimited File with a CSV Extension
		Example: Importing a Tab-Delimited File
	Reading and Verifying  Data
		Verifying the Code That Reads the Data
		Checking DATA Step Processing
		Printing the Data Set
		Reading the Entire External File
	Using the Imported Data in a DATA Step
		Naming the Data Set with the DATA Statement
		Specifying the Imported Data with the SET Statement
	Reading a Single SAS  Data Set to Create Another
		Example: Reading a SAS Data Set
		Specifying DROP= and KEEP= Data Set Options
	Reading Microsoft Excel Data with the XLSX Engine
		Running SAS with Microsoft Excel
		Steps for Reading Excel Data
		The LIBNAME Statement
		Referencing an Excel Workbook
		Referencing an Excel Workbook in a DATA Step
		Printing an Excel Worksheet as a SAS Data Set
	Creating Excel Worksheets
	Writing Observations Explicitly
	Chapter Quiz
Identifying and Correcting SAS Language Errors
	Error Messages
		Types of Errors
		Syntax Errors
		Example: Syntax Error Messages
	Correcting Common Errors
		The Basics of Error Correction
		Resubmitting a Revised Program
		The Basics of Logic Errors
		PUT Statement
		Missing RUN Statement
		Missing Semicolon
		Correcting the Error: Missing Semicolon
		Unbalanced Quotation Marks
		Correcting the Error in the Windows Operating Environment
		Correcting the Error in the UNIX Environment
		Correcting the Error in the z/OS Operating Environment
		Semantic Error: Invalid Option
		Correcting the Error: Invalid Option
	Chapter Quiz
Creating Reports
	Creating a Basic Report
	Selecting Variables
		The VAR Statement
		Removing the OBS Column
	Identifying Observations
		Using the ID Statement in PROC PRINT
		Example: ID Statement
		Example: ID and VAR Statement
		Selecting Observations
		Specifying WHERE Expressions
		Using the CONTAINS Operator
		Specifying Compound WHERE Expressions
		Examples of WHERE Statements
		Using System Options to Specify Observations
		Examples: FIRSTOBS= and OBS= Options
		Using FIRSTOBS= and OBS= for Specific Data Sets
		Example: FIRSTOBS= and OBS= as Data Set Options
	Sorting Data
		The SORT Procedure
		Example: PROC SORT
	Generating Column Totals
		The SUM Statement
		Creating Subtotals for Variable Groups
		Example: SUM Statement
		Creating a Customized Layout with BY Groups and ID Variables
		Example: ID, BY, and SUM Statements
		Creating Subtotals on Separate Pages
		Example: PAGEBY Statement
	Specifying Titles and Footnotes in Procedure Output
		TITLE and FOOTNOTE Statements
		Example: Creating Titles
		Example: Creating Footnotes
		Modifying and Canceling Titles and Footnotes
	Assigning Descriptive Labels
		Temporarily Assigning Labels to Variables
		Example: Using the LABEL Option in the PROC PRINT Statement
		Example: Using Multiple LABEL Statements
		Example: Using a Single LABEL Statement to Assign MultipleLabels
	Using Permanently Assigned Labels
	Chapter Quiz
Understanding DATA Step Processing
	How SAS Processes Programs
	Compilation Phase
		Program Data Vector (PDV)
		Syntax Checking
		Data Set Variables
		Descriptor Portion of the SAS Data Set
	Execution Phase
		Initializing Variables
		SET Statement
		Sequentially Process Statements
		End of the DATA Step
		Iterations of the DATA Step
		End-of-File Marker
		End of the Execution Phase
	Debugging a DATA Step
		Diagnosing Errors in the Compilation Phase
		Diagnosing Errors in the Execution Phase
		Debugging Data Errors
		Using an Assignment Statement to Clean Invalid Data
	Testing Your Programs
		Limiting Observations
		Example: Viewing Execution in the SAS Log
	Chapter Quiz
BY-Group Processing
	Definitions
	Preprocessing Data
		Determine Whether the Data Requires Preprocessing
		Example: Sorting Observations for BY-Group Processing
	FIRST. and LAST. DATA Step Variables
		How the DATA Step Identifies BY Groups
		How SAS Determines FIRST.variable andLAST.variable
		Example: Grouping Observations Using One BY Variable
		Example: Grouping Observations Using Multiple BY Variables
	Chapter Quiz
Creating and Managing Variables
	Creating Variables
		Assignment Statements
		SAS Expressions
		Using Operators in SAS Expressions
		Examples: Assign Variables
		Date Constants
		Example: Assignment Statements and Date Values
	Modifying Variables
		Selected Useful Statements
		Accumulating Totals
		Example: Accumulating Totals
		Initializing Sum Variables
		Example: RETAIN Statement
	Specifying Lengths for Variables
		Avoiding Truncated Variable Values
		Example: LENGTH Statement
	Subsetting Data
		Using a Subsetting IF Statement
		Example: Subsetting IF Statement
		Categorizing Values
		Example: IF-THEN Statement
		Examples: Logical Operators
		Providing an Alternative Action
		Deleting Unwanted Observations
		Example: IF-THEN and DELETE Statements
		Selecting Variables
		Example: DROP Data Set Option
		Example: Using the DROP Statement
	Chapter Quiz
Combining SAS Data Sets
	How to Prepare Your Data Sets
		Determining the Structure and Contents of  Data Sets
		Testing Your Program
		Looking at Sources of Common Problems
	Methods of Combining SAS Data Sets: The Basics
	One-to-One Reading: Details
		One-to-One Reading Syntax
		How One-to-One Reading Selects Data
		How One-to-One Reading Works
		Example: Using One-to-One Reading to Combine Data Sets
	Concatenating: Details
		Concatenating Syntax
		How Concatenating Selects Data
		Example: Using Concatenating to Combine Data Sets
	Match-Merging: Details
		Match-Merging Syntax
		How Match-Merging Selects Data
		Example: Using Match-Merging to Combine Data Sets
		Example: Merge in Descending Order
	Match-Merge Processing
		The Basics of Match-Merge Processing
		The Compilation Phase: Setting Up a New Data Set
		The Execution Phase: Match-Merging Observations
		Handling Unmatched Observations and Missing Values
	Renaming Variables
		The Basics of Renaming Variables
		RENAME Statement Syntax
		Example: Renaming Variables
	Excluding Unmatched Observations
		Overview
		Identifying Observation in Both Data Sets
		Selecting Matching Observations
	Chapter Quiz
Processing Data with DO Loops
	The Basics of DO Loops
		The Basics of Using Grouping Statements and DO Groups
		Example: DO and END Statements
		DO Statement, Iterative Syntax
		Example: Processing Iterative DO Loops
	Constructing DO Loops
		DO Loop Execution
		Using Explicit OUTPUT Statements
		Decrementing DO Loops
		Specifying a Series of Items
	Nesting DO Loops
		Indenting and Nesting DO Groups
		Examples: Nesting DO Loops
	Iteratively Processing Observations from a Data Set
	Conditionally Executing DO Loops
		Overview
		Using the DO UNTIL Statement
		Using the DO WHILE Statement
	Chapter Quiz
SAS Formats and Informats
	Applying SAS Formats and Informats
		Temporarily Assigning Formats to Variables
		Specifying SAS Formats
		Field Widths
		Decimal Places
		Examples: Data Values and Formats
	The FORMAT Procedure
		Definitions
		A Word about PROC FORMAT
		The PROC FORMAT Statement
		Permanently Storing Your Formats
	Defining a Unique Format
		The VALUE Statement
		Specifying Value Ranges
	Associating User-Defined Formats with Variables
		How SAS Finds Format Catalogs
		Assigning  Formats to Variables
		Displaying User-Defined Formats
	Chapter Quiz
SAS Date, Time, and Datetime Values
	SAS Date and Time Values
		Definitions
		Example: Date and Time Values
	Reading Dates and Times with Informats
		Overview
		The MMDDYYw. Informat
		Example: Reading Dates with Formats and Informats
		The DATEw. Informat
		The TIMEw. Informat
		The DATETIMEw. Informat
	Example: Using Dates and Times in Calculations
	Displaying Date and Time Values with Formats
		The WEEKDATEw. Format
		The WORDDATEw. Format
	Chapter Quiz
Using Functions to Manipulate Data
	The Basics of SAS Functions
		Definition
		Uses of SAS Functions
		SAS Functions Categories
	SAS Functions Syntax
		Arguments and Variable Lists
		Example: Multiple Arguments
		Target Variables
	Converting Data with Functions
		A Word about Converting Data
		Potential Problems of Omitting INPUT or PUT
		Automatic Character-to-Numeric Conversion
		When Automatic Conversion Occurs
		Restriction for WHERE Expressions
		Explicit Character-to-Numeric Conversion
		Automatic Numeric-to-Character Conversion
		Explicit Numeric-to-Character Conversion
	Manipulating SAS Date Values with Functions
		SAS Date Functions
		YEAR, QTR, MONTH, and DAY Functions
		WEEKDAY Function
		MDY Function
		DATE and TODAY Functions
		INTCK Function
		INTNX Function
		DATDIF and YRDIF Functions
	Modifying Character Values with Functions
		SCAN Function
		SUBSTR Function
		SCAN versus SUBSTR Functions
		LEFT and RIGHT Functions
		Concatenation Operator
		TRIM Function
		CATX Function
		INDEX Function
		Finding a String Regardless of Case
		FIND Function
		UPCASE Function
		LOWCASE Function
		PROPCASE Function
		TRANWRD Function
		COMPBL Function
		COMPRESS Function
	Modifying Numeric Values with Functions
		CEIL and FLOOR Functions
		INT Function
		ROUND Function
	Nesting SAS Functions
	Chapter Quiz
Producing Descriptive Statistics
	The MEANS Procedure
		What Does the MEANS Procedure Do?
		MEANS Procedure Syntax
		Example: Default PROC MEANS Output
		Specifying Descriptive Statistics Keywords
		Example: Specifying Statistic Keywords
		Limiting Decimal Places with MAXDEC= Option
		Specifying Variables Using the VAR Statement
		Group Processing Using the CLASS Statement
		Group Processing Using the BY Statement
		Creating a Summarized Data Set Using the OUTPUT Statement
	The FREQ Procedure
		What Does the FREQ Procedure Do?
		FREQ Procedure Syntax
		Example: Creating a One-Way Frequency Table (Default)
		Specifying Variables Using the TABLES Statement
		Example: Creating a One-Way Table for One Variable
		Example: Determining the Report Layout
		Create Two-Way and N-WayTables
		Example: Creating Two-Way Tables
		Examples: Creating N-Way Tables
		Creating Tables Using the LIST Option
		Example: Using the LIST Option
		Example: Using the CROSSLIST Option
		Suppressing Table Information
		Example: Suppressing Percentages
	Chapter Quiz
Creating Output
	The Output Delivery System (ODS)
		Overview of ODS
		Opening and Closing ODS Destinations
		Using Statements to Open and Close ODS Destinations
	Creating HTML Output with ODS
		The ODS HTML Statement
		Example: Creating Output with PROC PRINT
		Creating HTML Output with a Table of Contents
		Using Options to Specify Links and Paths
		Changing the Appearance of HTML Output
	Creating PDF Output with ODS
		The ODS PDF Statement
		The ODS Printer Family of Statements
		Opening and Closing the PDF Destination
		Working with the Table of Contents
		Example: Creating PDF Output Using the FILE= Option
		Example: Creating a Printable Table of Contents
		Changing the Appearance of PDF Output
	Creating RTF Output with ODS
		The ODS RTF Statement
		Opening and Closing the RTF Destination
		Understanding How RTF Formats Output
		ODS RTF and Graphics
		Example: Using the STYLE= Option (FestivalPrinter Style)
	Creating EXCEL Output with ODS
		The ODS EXCEL Statement
		Details About the Excel ODS Destination
		Example: Customizing Your Excel Output
	Chapter Quiz
Quiz Answer Keys
	Chapter 2: Basic Concepts
	Chapter 3: Accessing Your Data
	Chapter 4: Creating SAS Data Sets
	Chapter 5: Identifying and Correcting SAS Language Errors
	Chapter 6: Creating Reports
	Chapter 7: Understanding DATA Step Processing
	Chapter 8: BY-Group Processing
	Chapter 9: Creating and Managing Variables
	Chapter 10: Combining SAS Data Sets
	Chapter 11: Processing Data with DO Loops
	Chapter 12: SAS Formats and Informats
	Chapter 13: SAS Date, Time, and Datetime Values
	Chapter 14: Using Functions to Manipulate Data
	Chapter 15: Producing Descriptive Statistics
	Chapter 16: Creating Output
Index