Getting Started with SAS for Windows

27 September 1995
Usage Note: Stat-47
Copyright 1995-1997, ACITS, The University of Texas at Austin
Statistical Services, 475-9372
Available online at: http://www.utexas.edu/cc/docs/stat47.html

This document is for Windows users who are unfamiliar with SAS. The document assumes that SAS software is already installed on the machine you use and that you know:

  1. How to use a two-button computer mouse.
  2. How to use pull-down menus and dialog boxes.
  3. How to locate file and program icons.

Starting SAS for Windows

Locate the SAS icon in the Program Manager, or the icon for a SAS file in the File Manager. When you see the icon, double-click on it. After a few moments SAS for Windows starts and three colored windows appear: a light blue window labeled Output, a darker blue window labeled Program Editor, and a gray window labeled Log.

Exiting from SAS for Windows

To exit from SAS, first make sure that you have saved all your work. Then:
  1. With your cursor in the Program Editor window, click the RIGHT mouse button once. A menu appears.
  2. Point to File in the menu and click once with the LEFT mouse button.
  3. Point to Exit and click once with the LEFT mouse button.

Opening a SAS for Windows program file

  1. With your mouse in the Program Editor window click the RIGHT mouse button once. A menu appears.
  2. Point to File in the menu and click once with the LEFT mouse button.
  3. Point to Open and click once with the LEFT mouse button.
  4. Point to Read File and click once with the LEFT mouse button.
  5. Point to the file that you want to open and click once on Okay with the LEFT mouse button. The program appears in the Program Editor window ready to be edited or to be submitted for execution.

Submitting a SAS program file

After opening a program file into the Program Editor, submit it for processing as follows:
  1. In the Program Editor window, click once with the RIGHT mouse button.
  2. Select Locals
  3. Select Submit
Results are displayed in the Output window. SAS notes, messages, and errors are displayed in the Log window.

Saving a file

SAS for Windows allows you to save the contents of a window in a file from any one of the three open windows. The procedure to save a file is the same for each window.
  1. Move to the window that you want to save and click once with the RIGHT mouse button. A menu appears.
  2. Point to File and click once with the LEFT mouse button.
  3. Point to Save As and click once with the LEFT mouse button.
  4. Point to Write To File and click once with the LEFT mouse button.
  5. Enter a file name and click on Okay.

Printing a file

SAS for Windows allows you to print the contents of any one of the three open windows. The procedure to print a file is the same for each window.
  1. Move to the window that you want to print and click once with the RIGHT mouse button. A menu appears.
  2. Point to File and click once with the LEFT mouse button.
  3. Point to Print and click once with the LEFT mouse button.
  4. Point to Print File and click once with the LEFT mouse button.
  5. Click on Okay.

Setting and saving preferences

SAS provides many Display Manager options. See the usage note Customizing your Work Environment in SAS for Windows (Stat-48) for details about these options.

SMF users: When you start SAS, if you find an unfamiliar set-up or if the set-up does not reflect the contents of this document, you must reboot the machine to return SAS to the default settings. Ask an SMF proctor for assistance.

For more information

Additional information about SAS for Windows is available from several sources:

Internal help

When running SAS, get help by selecting Help from the top menu bar and then selecting SAS System from the pop-up menu.

Manuals

There are many manuals available for SAS software, but three of them are used most frequently: SAS Language: Reference, SAS/STAT User's Guide (2 vols.), and SAS Procedures Guide. Manuals are available in the Documentation Room of the Student Microcomputer Facility, FAC 212. They can be purchased or ordered at the University Co-Op Bookstore.

Consulting

Help Desk consultants at 475-9400 can handle basic questions about SPSS and Windows . For more advanced help, call 475-9400 and make an appointment to meet with a Research Consulting statistical consultant. Or send e-mail to: stats@its.utexas.edu