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9to5sas » Base SAS » How to learn SAS Programming online for free?

How to learn SAS Programming online for free?

BySubhro Posted onDecember 2, 2019August 31, 2022 Last Updated:August 31, 2022
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9to5sas is a comprehensive online resource featuring free content exclusively for students interested in learning SAS. You can go by the 6-week learning guide and turn yourself right into a proficient SAS programmer.

Learn SAS free

Page Contents

  • Why SAS?
  • SAS Job Profiles
  • How to learn SAS Programming online for free?
  • Step 1: Download & Install SAS Studio
  • Step 2: SAS Interfaces
    • Coding Area
    • LOG Window
    • Results Window
    • Output Window
    • SAS Libraries
    • Folders
  • Step 3: Learn the SAS Library and Data Sets
  • Step 4: Learn How to Create a Data Set
  • Step 5: Learn SAS Functions
  • Step 6: Learn SAS Variables
  • Step 7: Learn to read and write the SAS dataset.
  • Step 8: Learn Data Manipulations
  • Step 9: Learn Data Analysis
  • Step 10: Learn Proc SQL
  • Step 11: Learn SAS Macro and Advanced SAS Techniques
  • Final Thoughts

Why SAS?

Being SAS Professional, I can tell you why SAS. I would say it’s a bit tiny subject; however, it is unique, competitive and leading within the analytics world. SAS is the main statistic tool certified by the FDA and IIRC.

SAS is a Statistical Analysis System, i.e. a collection of software program tools created by the SAS Institute. SAS programming has numerous applications like the analysis of multivariates, predictive analysis, management of data and business intelligence.

Statistics show that 70% of analytics jobs are in SAS Programming, followed by R and Python. It is an ever-evolving technology according to industry needs and is one major factor in its favour.

SAS Job Profiles

Below are some of the job profiles you can take up as a SAS professional:

  • SAS Analyst
  • SAS Programmer
  • Customer Analytics Manager
  • Decision Analyst

There is a huge scope of SAS for fresher. Banks are heavily using SAS, as are Insurance & other Financial Services companies like HSBC, Citi, JP Morgan, & Wells Fargo.

So it’s sensible to grab the opportunity if you get it by some means to learn and work on SAS technology.

How to learn SAS Programming online for free?

You do not want to spend a whopping six months learning SAS. You can follow the 6-week learning guide and become a proficient SAS programmer.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to get started in case you are a beginner.

SAS learning Plan

Step 1: Download & Install SAS Studio

SAS University Edition can be downloaded for free and is available for everyone. You can download it on your PC or use it from the Cloud.

Below are the articles you can refer to download and set up SAS.

  • Set up SAS University Edition
  • SAS on-demand – Complete Guide for using SAS on the cloud.

Step 2: SAS Interfaces

Before writing any code, you must first become acquainted with the SAS interface.

How to learn SAS Programming online for free?

Fortunately, the SAS interface is pretty easy to understand. Below is a brief of every part of the interface.

Coding Area

The coding space is positioned in the middle of the SAS Studio interface. This is the place you can write SAS programming codes.

Learn SAS free

LOG Window

The LOG window shows the programming notes after you run;

the program. It provides details about the code execution and whether there is an issue with the program and other useful Notes.

Learn SAS free

Results Window

The RESULTS window shows the report or analysis results when a procedure is compiled.

Learn SAS free

Output Window

Learn SAS free

SAS Libraries

SAS Library may be seen as the folder that contains all the SAS files and datasets.

Learn more by referring to below the article.

Working with SAS libraries

Learn SAS free

Folders

Folders allow you to organise your SAS programs and quickly access your saved SAS programs.

Learn SAS free

Step 3: Learn the SAS Library and Data Sets

SAS Library is the folder that comprises all of the SAS information. Learn about temporary and permanent libraries and how to create and permanent library.

SAS Programming – Basics of SAS Programming Language

Step 4: Learn How to Create a Data Set

SAS data set is the file that contains all the data. You must understand how to create data sets. Learn to create a SAS dataset and the options available in SAS.

  • SAS Datasets
  • Data set Options in SAS

Step 5: Learn SAS Functions

Now that you have a stable foundation of SAS data sets, it is time to begin learning how to manipulate data.

One of the methods to manipulate data is to use the built-in SAS functions.

Learn about the character, numeric and data functions in SAS. A simple example is using the SUM function to add up all of the numeric values.

You can learn about SAS functions from the below link.

  • The Ultimate Guide To SAS Character Functions
  • SAS Numeric functions and Operators

Step 6: Learn SAS Variables

In SAS, six attributes define every of the SAS variables:

  • Name
  • Label
  • Length
  • Type
  • Format
  • Informat

Learn about variable attributes from SAS Variable Attributes – SAS Help Center

Learn about the formats and informats in SAS from Ultimate Guide to SAS Formats and Informats.

Step 7: Learn to read and write the SAS dataset.

Data usually comes from an external source. It is important to learn how to read data from an external file.

Learn to import data in SAS from Import data into SAS.

Step 8: Learn Data Manipulations

SAS programs often involve data manipulation. Sorting and concatenation data are a few examples of data manipulations.

  • Sorting in SAS
  • Concatenating data 

Step 9: Learn Data Analysis

SAS is among the world’s best statistical analysis software programs. Below are some examples of the data analysis steps that are commonly used.

  • Proc Means
  • Proc Freq
  • Proc Tabulate
  • Proc Univariate

Step 10: Learn Proc SQL

Proc SQL is an advanced programming step generally used when working with data in a relational database. However, it can achieve identical results as the standard data step with greater efficiency.

Learn the basics of PROC SQL from A comprehensive guide to PROC SQL in SAS (15 + Examples)

Step 11: Learn SAS Macro and Advanced SAS Techniques

SAS macro is another advanced programming technique that enables you to perform dynamic value substitution and automate repetitive tasks.

Learn SAS Macro

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, SAS is a powerful tool that can be used to explore and manipulate information. But to use it effectively, it is important to understand its structure, and how to navigate the syntax you will be working with.

Hopefully, by following this course, you can now have that basic knowledge and start building programs for your own data sets.

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Post Tags: #SAS tutorials for Beginners
Subhro

Subhro Kar is an Analyst with over five years of experience. As a programmer specializing in SAS (Statistical Analysis System), Subhro also offers tutorials and guides on how to approach the coding language. His website, 9to5sas, offers students and new programmers useful easy-to-grasp resources to help them understand the fundamentals of SAS. Through this website, he shares his passion for programming while giving back to up-and-coming programmers in the field. Subhro’s mission is to offer quality tips, tricks, and lessons that give SAS beginners the skills they need to succeed.

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