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Understanding SAS


SAS is a highly efficient computer programming language
widely used for data analysis.  It provides:

o Information storage and retrieval
o Data modification
o Report writing
o Statistical analysis
o File handling

SAS provides procedural statements that can, with little
knowledge of programming techniques, help you perform a wide
range of data analysis.  SAS is used in CA MICS to input
data, edit it, create files, manipulate files, and produce
reports.

CA MICS reporting facilities (MICF and Q&R) generate SAS code
in a logical, stepped approach that minimizes your need to
understand SAS syntax.  There will be times, however, when
you want to go beyond standard facilities offered by the
tools for common reporting and retrieval.  Each of the tools
can be extended with your own SAS statements so a rudimentary
knowledge of terminology, common data access, and
manipulation capabilities is most helpful.  Since each tool
produces SAS code, examining this code will help you
understand the SAS language.

SAS and CA MICS Terminology
---------------------------

The basic unit of data in SAS is the data value. A data value
is an individual measurement for a variable. For example, the
variable named CPUTOBTM (CPU Total Busy Time) is the
collection of all data values of the same name.

An observation is a collection of data values associated with
a key value, for example, SYSNAME in the example below.  A
SAS data set is a collection of observations of the same
type.

In CA MICS terminology, the SAS variable, observation, and
data set equate to data element, record, and file
respectively.

A collection of SAS data sets is known as a SAS data library.
In CA MICS, collections of files reside in z/OS data sets
associated with the CA MICS database unit.

The following example from the CA MICS HARCPU file
illustrates the contents of a SAS data set or CA MICS file,
with three observations for each of two entities:

Obs   SYSNAME   ZONE   CPUTOBTM              CPUPCBSY
______________________________________________________
1     CA03      1      22:20:25:86           4.71%
2     CA03      2      19:11:54:83           4.01%
3     CA03      3      12:23:53:80           2.96%
4     CA11      1     302:55:54:08          60.11%
5     CA11      2     273:59:43:99          54.36%
6     CA11      3     111:16:51:76          27.30%


Macros, Macro Variables, and Formats in CA MICS Reporting
---------------------------------------------------------

SAS code structures are provided during CA MICS installation
and configuration.  Depending on the desired outcome in data
manipulation for reporting or data extraction, these
structures may be of value.

CA MICS is a generated system.  Data describing the
configured CA MICS system is generated in many forms during
installation and configuration. CA MICS documentation
reflecting your specific configuration is generated as well.

In addition, SAS macros, SAS macro variables, and SAS formats
are created. SAS macros, macro variables, and formats can
also be created during reporting development. Generally these
code structures are useful when reuse is expected, either
within a single query or across queries.

Macros and macro variables are created by the macro facility,
which allows you to extend and customize the basic language
by use of the macro language.  The macro language syntax is
similar but distinct from the basic SAS language.  Macro
language statements are interpreted by the macro processor,
which compiles and executes the statements.  Macros can
generate SAS language statements, interface with other
macros, create macro variables, and perform many other
activities.  Macro variables retain values until they are
changed and are often used to communicate values as SAS code
moves from one data step or procedure to another.

SAS language format tells the language how to write a
variable. In terms of CA MICS reporting, it refers to numeric
and character formats written by CA MICS or user reporting
code using "PROC formats."  These formats allow easy and
quick interpretation of input values, often returning values
that will be placed in newly-created variables to use in your
reporting. For example, you may want to interpret an input
value representing a department number and return a more
meaningful name.

This section contains the following topics:

2.1 What SAS Can Do

2.2 A SAS Program

2.3 SAS Syntax