Simple Data Viewer for SAS Enterprise Guide 5.1, 6.1, 7.1 and 8.1

SAS Enterprise Guide is a Windows-based application that can connect to SAS server installation of Windows, UNIX, Linux and z/OS servers, but provide a Windows experience for the user. Unfortunately there are a number of limitations to the user interface, and this add-in was developed to allow users to view more than the maximum of 2 SAS data sets at the same time. In fact the only limit to how many SAS data sets that can be opened simultaneously is the available Windows memory. This add-in (version 1.0.0 and 1.1.0) is available for use with SAS versions 9.2 and 9.3 by all Enterprise Guide 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1 users, and now (version 1.1.0) also for SAS version 9.4 and Enterprise Guide 8.1, but only as a tailored DLL file, where the user's accessible SAS site numbers have been incorporated. This has been done to minimise the risk of the add-in being used by unregistered users.

Please include your company name and SAS site numbers when you order your tailored version of this Enterprise Guide Add-In from Holland Numerics Limited.

Installation of a tailored Enterprise Guide 5.1, 6.1, 7.1 and 8.1 Add-In

The following screenshots all have headers that say "Simple Data Viewer (for HNL)". This is because the add-in used has been tailored for my own company, Holland Numerics Limited (HNL), and will only work with the SAS site numbers specified when it was built to prevent use elsewhere. Therefore, before this tailoring can be completed, all the SAS site numbers in use should be sent to us, so they can be incorporated into the final product.

Please include your company name and SAS site numbers when you order your tailored version of this Enterprise Guide Add-In from Holland Numerics Limited.

The product is supplied as a DLL file, in this case it is DataGridViewer_HNL.dll, but will have your company name in place of "HNL". The file is compatible with Enterprise Guide 5.1, which uses .NET Framework 4.0, and should be copied to the Custom folder in your SAS Enterprise Guide 5.1 Roaming profile, which can be found in %APPDATA%\SAS\EnterpriseGuide\5.1. If this Custom folder is not already there, then it should be created before the DLL file is copied into it. The next time Enterprise Guide 5.1 is started the add-in can be located in Tools > Add-In > Simple Data Viewer (for xxx)..., where xxx will be replaced by your company name too.

Note that this add-in is also compatible with Enterprise Guide 6.1, 7.1 and 8.1, and the location to be used should for these versions include "6.1", "7.1" or "8" respectively, instead of "5.1" used above.

Full installation instructions and a summary of add-in functionality can be found in Simple Data Viewer(for Client).pdf.

What does the Add-In do?

The Add-In generates SQL using the 3 text boxes: Data set, Data set options and Data set filter. The final SQL clauses will look like one of the following:

• 1. SELECT MONOTONIC() AS _Obs_, *

  2. FROM {Data set}

  3. SELECT MONOTONIC() AS _Obs_, *

  4. FROM {Data set} ({Data set options})

  5. SELECT MONOTONIC() AS _Obs_, *

  6. FROM {Data set}

  7. WHERE {Data set filter}

  8. SELECT MONOTONIC() AS _Obs_, *

  9. FROM {Data set} ({Data set options})

  10. WHERE {Data set filter}

Note that the MONOTONIC() function will generate a record number, but should not be used to identify individual records, as it will change whenever a data set is loaded.

If SAS formats are used, then they are used prior to viewing to convert all the columns where SAS formats exist in the original data set. Therefore, when SAS formats are used, only SQL clauses 1 and 3 are permitted.

Useful features:

• • SAS Enterprise Guide only allows a maximum of 2 data sets to be viewed at the same time. This add-in can be used to view as many more data sets as can be accommodated by the available memory.

  • Each floating data set window can be resized and positioned to allow visual comparison.

  • Any data sets opened are actually copied into memory, so these data sets are only locked for the duration of the copying process.

  • Data sets being viewed can be compared to newer versions of the same data set, provided they are not reloaded.

  • When the SAS data set has been opened, its name is added to the window header, so it can be easily identified in the tool bar.

  • The generated SQL can be copied for use in your own SAS programs.

  • Columns can be sorted by clicking the column header.