Customizing SAS in a Windows Environment

Transcription

1 Customizing SAS in a Windows Environment Mel Widawski, UCLA, Los Angeles, California ABSTRACT Using the SAS default settings, buttons, and function keys provide a good work environment. But this environment may be personalized by changing some of these settings. You will be shown how to add new buttons on the tool bar, customize function keys, change the appearance of tables, and control where the automatic SAS work libraries are written. INTRODUCTION The following discussion assumes that you will be using SAS version 8 under a Windows operating system. A lot of what will be discussed can be applied to SAS 6.12 under Windows as well. The default set up works well in most environments, and the choices are pretty good. SAS even detects if a machine is set up for a multi-user environment and creates separate SASUSER libraries for each of the users. This is placed under your profile in personal files in the NT Environment: c:\winnt\profiles\yourict.personai\mysas Files\VB\ or in the 95 or 98 environments: c:\my Documents\MySAS Files\V8\ Your personal profile is stored in this directory. This allows you to customize your windows and tools without affecting another on a shared machine in Windows NT. These defaults may not always work for your environment. You may not have sufficient disk space on your. C drive to hold these files as well as all of the programs you have installed, and still allow space for workspace for those programs. Also you may, like me, find that you need different profiles for different purposes. When I am working alone in my office on a project, I like to define my screens with as small a font as I can. I do this in order to maximize the number of lines I can see in a window at one time. But when I have a consultee in my office I know I need bigger fonts so that he/she can read what is on the screen too. If I don't want to have to customize each time, then I need to maintain different SASUSER libraries with different profiles. Space considerations: I tend to have a large number of programs installed and space on C and D are at a premium. This requires that I keep my program files, and my work and profiles on a different disk from the default. Also, since I am constantly emaiiing output to persons who do not have SAS fonts installed, I like to have ASCII characters for box outlines for tables. Finally, I like my tools set up a little differently from the way SAS provides. I have always felt that the only safe practice was to do a save as rather than a save. Thus, you always see the name of the file that is going to be saved, and you can change the name if it is incorrect. In order to meet these requirements I am forced to change the default settings. At this level you will need to know about the SAS configuration files. I have separated my discussion of the customization into the following five sections. First: Understanding SAS" configuration file (SASV8.CFG). If you are just going to customize the internals, and keep the default profile and work files, you may skip this section. If you intend to change the defauh outlines for tables you may want to read this section anyway. It is good to know that this file exists, and its purpose. You will also be shown how to maintain separate configuration files. Second: Modifying Windows shortcuts. You control the location of the configuration file, SASUSER library and work data sets by customizing your shortcuts. This is not actually doing SAS, but learning about Windows shortcuts will help you to control your SAS customization. Third: Customizing the TOOLBOX. This allows you to add tools. Under 6.12 I needed a large number of customized tools to function well. I find that some of the newer features of version 8 make some of these obsolete. Fourth: Customizing OPTIONS. This allows you to define things like size, font, line numbers, and what happens when you run a program. Fifth: Propagating your PROFILE. Once you have a profile you like, you may want to avoid having to set it up again from scratch if you change machines. You may also want to be able to share your profile with others. 618

2 UNDERSTANDING SASVS.CFG ALWAYS: Make a copy of a file like this and modify the copy. Also keep an extra copy of the original file somewhere safe from accidental deletion. I* set default locations */ -fontsloc "lsasroot\core\resaurce -TRAINLOC I I* set the default size of memory to use for sorting */ -sortsize 2m 1* set catalog cache * 1 -catcache o J* set the default fileref for the PARMCARDs- option */ SET FT15F001 'FT15F001.DAT' /* Set initial values for symbol tables */ MVARSIZE 4098, \ IISVIITA9MAX SAS System FORMCHARS 1 used by pressing ALT then the decimal 1 I number for the Extended ASCII character. 1 \ ! I* This is the OEM character set */ I* -FORM::HAR saual.aa."mij.t=l-1\<>*" */ I* This is the ANSI character set (for SAS Monospace font and ANSI sastont) */ FORMCHAR i-m f-h W+ l /1<>.. t Thi.$ is the ANSl character set, \ I' FORII:HAR " =1 11<>*' I WARNING: INSTALL Application edits below this line. User I I options should be added above this box com~~ent. I I INSTALL Application aintains and modifies tho 1 1 following options; SASAUTOS, -~ELP, -SASMSG, 1 I -PATH, and -MPS. It also uintains and IIIDdifies 1 I the following CONFJG variables with the -SET option; I I INSTALL, USAGE, LIBRARY, SAMPSIO, SAMPSRC, SASCBT, I I and SASEXT01-SASEXT50. It preserves all lines above I I tho line containing 'DD NOT EDIT BELOW THIS LINE'. I \ 'I I' DO NOT EDIT BELOW THIS LINE - INSTALL Application edits below this line '/ I* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *I SET sasexto 'd:\sass\sas Institute\SAS\YB' -SET sasroot d:\sass\sas lnstitute\sas\v8 -SET SASFOLDER 'd:\sasb\sas Institute\SAS\VB" J setup the default SAS System user profile folder SASUSER 'IUSERPROFILE\Personal\My SAS B Fil&S\V81' I* setup the default SAS System user work folder -'M)R.K 1 1TEMP\SAS Tamporary Files\ I* Setup the SAS System configuration folder SET SASCFG "d:\sas8\sas Instituto\SAS\V8" NtiiMJI/WINIM file cut et this point VI/IMNII'INVIMI This file is found in a path like c:\llas\v8\ sasv8.cfg, but since this is controlled by you during SAS Installation, It may be elsewhere. Look in the folder where you installed SAS. On my machine SAS is installed on the D drive. It will be in the same folder as SAS.EXE. If you have trouble finding it, you can look in the next section under the shortcuts, as the shortcut points to that folder. A partial copy of this file appeared on the previous page. If you are going to modify it, remember to make a copy in your own file area. I like to store my copy in d:'lamel\sas\ sasv8.cfg. I put an a in front of my name so it always sorts to the top of the list for the drive at the top of the list. SASVS.CFG Contents As you can see, the Configuration File has two main parts. Above Line, you maintain the file. You can actually put your customized options here. In version 6.12 and before, control of the location of SASUSER and WORK libraries. were above the line, but this is no longer true for version 8. You can still control things like FORMCHAR, the default characters used for enclosing text in boxes in SASVS.CFG. The line I am discussing looks like the following: /* DO NOT EDIT BELOW THIS LINE INSTALL Application I* * * * * * * * * "' * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Below this line, SAS install maintains the lines and establishes default folders and concatenation lists. Among these for version 8 are the SASUSER and WORK libraries. FORMCHAR in SASVS.CFG Since I output to the researchers that I work with, and they don't always have SAS fonts Installed on their computers, it is best to change the FORMCHAR specification to one that works with any font. The default FORMCHAR looks like the following, except that the following was cut after font and doesn't have the comment end(*/). /*This is the ANSI character set(for SAS Monospace font -FORIICHAR 1-m ftj W+:J /\<>* We want to change from this to the following, which is currently commented out. Please take a look in the listing of this file on the previous page and locate both sets of lines. t This is the ANSI character set /* FORMCHAR J J+J +=J /\<~* To change from one to the other remove the rand */from the -FORMCHAR line directly above, and comment out the one above that by enclosing it with r and */. /*This is the ANSI character set(for SAS Monospace font -FORMCHAR 1-m ftj W+=l /\<>* t This is the ANSI character set /* FDRMCHAR J =J-/\<>* SASUSER Pointer In SASVS.CFG The SASUSER pointer is found below the line. This Is how it looks on my machine: t Setup the SAS Syste configuration folder */ -SASUSER "IUSERPROFILE\Personal\Uy SAS 8 Files\V8\' *I 619

3 On Windows 95 & 98 machines it would look like the following:!* Setup the SAS System configuration folder */ -SASUSER "c:\my Document$\My SAS 8 Files\VS\' In order to preserve the defauh SASUSER profiles you should make a copy of the SASUSER directory under your own directory (e.g. e:\amel for me). Actually, since I customize different profiles for different purposes, I create separate SASUSER libraries on my machine for each different profile I want to create. SAS does not recommend changing anything below the line and there are drawbacks to doing so even if you maintain a separate SASVS.CFG file. When you install an upgrade to SAS, you then have to reconcile the new SASV8.CFG file with your own. If you must make this change in the configuration file, it is best to save your copy in a completely separate library from the SAS installation library. This is because SAS has been known to empty a library during the install. I will demonstrate a way to accomplish the same function without modifying the statements in the SASV8.CFG. This is covered In the next section under modifying the Windows SAS Shortcut. If you are still intent on changing the configuration, file then this is what you can do. Note that simply adding the same specification to the file above the line does not work, just as in any SAS program the lines are executed in the order they appear. To change the pointer to point to your SASUSER directory make a change like the following: in Explorer, right click and drag it to the folder you want, and click copy when the menu pops up. You can then rename the shortcut as you desire. For example, I might name mine SAS V8 Big. You may place this shortcut on the desk top, in the Programs folder, or in the same folder as you store the original shortcut. ' c... '..-aj Downloaded Pro!llam Fie Ell[] Fonlo f!'f::l Forms :e He$> ill(;j Histor $ CJ HP\rinst H211r1 ill elillmtoller ~ CJ J~va ci! CJ Me<ia ' G:l msdownld.tmp L(ij Olline'w'obPaoe f D Pif a(;z~prolleo ' f$1- \ill Admiriatrotor t-;~claiu.... o.. ktop J Setup the default SAS syst user profile dir */ -SASUSER d:\amel\sas\sasuser\ Replace d:\amel\sas\ with the path you want. The SASUSER folder will be created the first time you open SAS. The SASWORK pointer can be changed in a similar manner. Change it if you have another disk that will always have space for the work data sets. Saving SASV8.CFG I recommend that you ALWAYS do a SAVE AS when saving files. Also, remember this is a copy that should be saved in your directory not the SAS directory. You could still call H SASV8.CFG or you could give it another name like BIGSASV8.CFG. To make use of the new SASV8.CFG you will need to create a new shortcut for SAS. So proceed to the next section. MODIFYING THE SAS SHORTCUT Preparation: Creating Folders and Copying Files ALWAYS: Make a copy of a file like The SAS System for Windows V8 shortcut and modify the copy. Find the icon You should take the same precaution with any file or folder that you will be working with. For example, if you intend to create separate SASUSER folders for different purposes, and intend to refer to them in the shortcut or the configuration file, then you will have to create any folders you need first. Assume that we will be using separate SASUSER folders to have versions of SAS with different sized fonts. We need to create the main folder in which to store 620

4 SASUSER. Then we can find the default user folder and copy It to the new folder by dragging and dropping. SASUSER Folder Since tool and font definitions, as well as other options you may choose, are stored in your SASUSER folder in profiles, it would be best to create a copy of this folder. The SASUSER folder usually contains the two catalogs Proflle.sc2 and Profile2.sc2. The location of this folder has been discussed in the section above SASUSER Pointer in SASV8.CFG. Copy it to your personal folder. I copy mine to d:\amel\sas\sasblg. Maintaining different SASUSER profiles is useful to preserve the default or to maintain different customized environments. If. you share machines and login I D's, then this is the only way to be able to customize your environment without affecting the SAS computing environment of those with whom you share. SAS Shortcut The SAS Shortcut is usually found in the following path. c:\winntlprofilea\aii Usars\Start Manu\Programs\The SAS System Winnt could be replaced with Wln95 or Windows, depending on which operating system you are running. The shortcut is called The SAS System for Windows V8. To copy the profile, right click and drag and drop it to the location you desire as described above. Remember to change the name to something that will be meaningful to yo~. Modifying the SAS Shortcut Right Click on the Shortcut, for example BIG SAS System V8, and choose Properties at the bottom of the pop up menu. An example of the Properties Window is shown in the bottom of the previous column. You will want to click on the Shortcut tab. Then, under Target: you will want to change the -CONFIG to point to your new SASV8.CFG file. For example: "0:\SAS lnstltute\sas\v8\sas.exe" CONFIG "E:\amel\sas\SASV8blg.CFG" This is in the Target: box as one continuous line. Under Start in: you may want to change the pointer to point to another folder. It appears that SASUSER folder needs to be In the folder described here. You may want to control where SAS looks for your SAS program files. For example: E:\amel\sas\prog\ This used to be controlled by the Start in: field in version 6.12, but In version 8 you need to use another specification to control this. The SAS system option that controls the location of your default folder for storing programs is SASINITIALFOLDER. It is specified in the shortcut as: SASINITIAL.FOL.DER " E:\amel\sas\prog\ " Make sure this directory exists first or this won't work. You can control the location of SASUSER and the WORK file in the same way. The contents of Target: in the Shortcut to control all of these are shown below. "D:\SASS\SAS lnstltute\sas\vs\sas.exe" CONFIG "e:\amei\sas\sasv8blg.cfg" SASUSER "e:\amei\sas\sas8blg\".sasinitialfolder "e:\amei\sas\prog\" -WORK "g:\tempsas\sastempt" You are now ready to run and customize SAS in your own shell. Your customization will not affect other users. CUSTOMIZING SAS Creating Tools First you will run SAS by clicking on the new shortcut in the START Menu under Programs or double clicking on the icon on your desktop, if you copied it there. The tool we are going to change Is the save tool. It is also possible to add more tools to the tool bar. I have always felt it to be unfortunate that the default is save instead of save as. Most users would benefit from being asked what to save. Since it is convenient while program to bring in an existing program and modify it for the current use. Often it is disastrous to save the new program over the previous one. Therefore, the first thing I do in customizing SAS is to 621

5 replace the save tool with one that will do a save as, and allow me to see what I am saving each time. The Bitmap Browser window provides a large scrollable array of tool icons. The one I will choose for the save as function is the closed folder. You will see an arrow pointing to this folder in the window below. When you are done choosing an icon press OK. Back in the Customize Tools window you will see the information for the save tool, but the icon next to WFILE REPLACE will be changed as you indicated. We will now modify the lines for Command, Help Text, and Tip Text. First we will review what may be placed in these fields, starting with the command field. Once in SAS, choose Tools>Customize and you will see the Customize Tools window like the one below. Notice the Command area with WFILE REPLACE typed in. There is an array of tools for this window just above the Command area. Below this area is the Help Text area; this contains the help text that appears at the bottom left corner status area when you point to a tool. Below this is the Tip Text area where the bubble text that will appear by the cursor when you point to a tool can be supplied. Command Help Text Tip Text Any valid command that could be typed in the Command bar in SAS. Appears at the bottom area of the entire SAS window. Can be a long identifier for the tool. Bubble help that appears by tool when pointed to, should be short. I will replace WFILE REPLACE with DLGSAVE, which is the command that gives us the Save As Dialog window. I will change the help and tip to indicate that they will cause a Save As Dialog window to pop up. Adding a tool is verv much the same process. First choose the tool that will follow the new tool. Then choose add blank tool from the pull down menu to the left of delete (the x-out) in the middle tool bar in the Customize Tools window. Next assign an icon and type in the command and the help information. Some Useful Commands: Prog Log Out These can be used each on its own tool to jump to the Program, Log, or Output windows respectively. CLEAR Erase the contents of the current window. KEYS Opens window for modifying function keys. DLGSAVE Save. As discussed above. In the large area below this is a scrollable list of tools that are already defined. I have selected WFILE REPLACE, which is why that tool is highlighted and the name appears in the command box. In preparation for changing the tool we will change the icon. Choose the button that has the four tiny icons arranged in a square (look for the arrow pointing up diagonally). This will open the Bitmap Browser window. Virtually any command that can be used in the command area can be used in defining a tool. NOTE: you will have to customize the tools for the enhanced editor independently of the other windows. Simply activate this window and then proceed as above. 622

6 Setting Enhanced Editor Options To customize the Enhanced Editor options choose Tools>Options>Enhanced Editor in the pull down menus. Controlling the font for the enhanced editor is independent of the font for the other windows: program, log, and output. Setting Preferences Choosing Tools>Optlons>Preferences allows you to set preference for your SAS sessions. The one you most likely will want. to set is the Save settings on exit preference on the General tab. This will allow various changes like window resizing to be retained across sessions. The General tab allows you to control the actions in the editor. If you have used SAS for a number of years you may be used to automatically clearing lines from the program editor when you submit a program. To do this in the Enhanced Editor you have to check the Clear text on submit box on this screen. I like to have my lines numbered, and so I check the Show line numbers box here as well. The Appearance tab allows control over font and color for program elements that you use in the editor. CONCLUSION You now have some of the information necessary to customize SAS while being a good neighbor in shared environments, and can control where the work file is saved as well as where your profiles are to be kept. You have been introduced to creating tools and controlling the look of your session. REFERENCES SAS Institute Inc. (1999), SASS' Companion for the Microsoft Windows Environment, Version 8, First Edition, Cary, NC: SAS Institute Inc. SAS is a registered trademark or trademark of SAS Institute Inc. in the USA and other countries. e indicates USA registration. Windows, and Windows NT are registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the USA. e indicates USA registration. CONTACT INFORMATION Mel Wldawski UCLA Los Angeles, CA mel@ucla.edu 623