'You need this done by when.': Increasing your efficiency with the SAS(reg sign) system

摘要

The SAS Institute publication -- SAS Programming Tips: A Guide to Efficient SAS Processing defines efficiency as ''obtaining more results from fewer computer or human resources.'' While this publication contains many very useful tips, it seems to concentrate mostly on computer efficiency. This paper will focus on ways of increasing your efficiency in developing, writing, and debugging SAS programs, i.e. increasing human efficiency. In my job as a consulting statistician, my programs are usually one-run programs. That is, I develop and test a program, then I run them once to get the results I need, and the program is typically never used again. Even for multiple run jobs, the greatest expense by far is the time used to develop a program, and any CPU/hardware ''expense'' is relatively insignificant. I believe that this is true for most SAS system users and that not enough attention has been given to this aspect of ''cost''. While most of these tips and techniques were developed under the PC platform, nearly all are applicable and useful under all SAS supported platforms. Some of the tips the experienced SAS programmer may already be familiar with, but many should be new and useful to both novice and veteran users.