User Interfaces Made Easy
With SAS Stored
Processes
Tim Broeckert
Systems Seminar Consultants
Madison, WI
User Interfaces Made Easy with SAS Stored Processes | Systems Seminar Consultants, Inc.
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What is a SAS Stored Process?
SAS
Program
Stored
Process
(called by web/client
applications)
SAS
Metadata
User Interfaces Made Easy with SAS Stored Processes | Systems Seminar Consultants, Inc.
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What is a SAS Stored Process?
What does the metadata define?
• How the SAS program will be executed
• How inputs/outputs will be handled
• Basic layout for the user interface
User Interfaces Made Easy with SAS Stored Processes | Systems Seminar Consultants, Inc.
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Defining a SAS Stored Process
• Define Metadata in SAS Management Console (SMC) or
Enterprise Guide (EG)
• Requirements
- SAS Metadata server/repository
- SAS Application Server(s)
User Interfaces Made Easy with SAS Stored Processes | Systems Seminar Consultants, Inc.
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Execution Metadata
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Execution Metadata Cont.
• App Server
• Server Type
- Stored Process Server
- Workspace Server
• Source Code Location
• Result Capabilities
- Stream
- Package
User Interfaces Made Easy with SAS Stored Processes | Systems Seminar Consultants, Inc.
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Parameter Metadata
User Interfaces Made Easy with SAS Stored Processes | Systems Seminar Consultants, Inc.
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Parameter Prompts
• Associated with program macro variables
• Varying data types
• Prompt Method
- User provided
- Static/dynamic lists
• Number of values to be selected
• Variable constraints
• Default value
User Interfaces Made Easy with SAS Stored Processes | Systems Seminar Consultants, Inc.
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Parameter Groups
• All prompts are assigned to a group
• Standard Group
• Transparent Group
• Selection Group
- Static List Values
• Sub prompt members associated to each value
User Interfaces Made Easy with SAS Stored Processes | Systems Seminar Consultants, Inc.
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STP Example Interface
User Interfaces Made Easy with SAS Stored Processes | Systems Seminar Consultants, Inc.
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General Prompt Metadata
User Interfaces Made Easy with SAS Stored Processes | Systems Seminar Consultants, Inc.
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Prompt Details
User Interfaces Made Easy with SAS Stored Processes | Systems Seminar Consultants, Inc.
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Multiple Value Handling
User Interfaces Made Easy with SAS Stored Processes | Systems Seminar Consultants, Inc.
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Date Range Prompts
User Interfaces Made Easy with SAS Stored Processes | Systems Seminar Consultants, Inc.
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Date Value Handling
User Interfaces Made Easy with SAS Stored Processes | Systems Seminar Consultants, Inc.
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Dynamic Dropdowns
User Interfaces Made Easy with SAS Stored Processes | Systems Seminar Consultants, Inc.
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Dynamic Dropdown Dependencies
User Interfaces Made Easy with SAS Stored Processes | Systems Seminar Consultants, Inc.
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Selection Groups
User Interfaces Made Easy with SAS Stored Processes | Systems Seminar Consultants, Inc.
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Managing Data Quality
User Interfaces Made Easy with SAS Stored Processes | Systems Seminar Consultants, Inc.
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Output Parameters
Pass macro variables/values back to client
User Interfaces Made Easy with SAS Stored Processes | Systems Seminar Consultants, Inc.
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Data Sources & Targets
User Interfaces Made Easy with SAS Stored Processes | Systems Seminar Consultants, Inc.
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Source Metadata Example
• Allow the client application to pass in data
- Define the content type & fileref in metadata
- Refer to fileref and &_webin_sasname in program
User Interfaces Made Easy with SAS Stored Processes | Systems Seminar Consultants, Inc.
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Metadata Security
• Stored Processes reside in a SAS Folder defined in the
metadata
- ReadMetadata provides access to run stored
processes
- Users must also have appropriate metadata permissions
to data accessed by the stored process
User Interfaces Made Easy with SAS Stored Processes | Systems Seminar Consultants, Inc.
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SAS Program Considerations
• % GLOBAL <input parms>;
• *ProcessBody;
- Set input parms
• %STPBEGIN;/%STPEND;
- Standaradized ODS handling
• Input data validation
User Interfaces Made Easy with SAS Stored Processes | Systems Seminar Consultants, Inc.
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Stored Process Interfaces
• Enterprise Guide
• MS Office (via SAS add-in)
• Information Delivery Portal
• Web Report Studio
• Custom Built Web Applications
User Interfaces Made Easy with SAS Stored Processes | Systems Seminar Consultants, Inc.
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Stored Process Pro’s & Con’s
• Provides a universal user interface which allows users to
execute a tightly managed process
• UI is easily created/maintained
• Only minor program changes req’d
• UI functionality has limitations
• Requires BI infrastructure
User Interfaces Made Easy with SAS Stored Processes | Systems Seminar Consultants, Inc.
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Additional Resources
• Developer’s Guides
• 9.1.3
http://support.sas.com/rnd/itech/doc9/dev_guide/stprocess/
• 9.2
http://support.sas.com/documentation/cdl/en/stpug/61271/HT
ML/default/viewer.htm
9.3
http://support.sas.com/documentation/cdl/en/stpug/62758/PD
F/default/stpug.pdf
User Interfaces Made Easy with SAS Stored Processes | Systems Seminar Consultants, Inc.
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Contact Information
SAS® Training, Consulting, & Support
(608) 278-9964
www.sys-seminar.com
admin@sys-seminar.com
2997 Yarmouth Greenway Drive
Madison, WI 53711
User Interfaces Made Easy with SAS Stored Processes | Systems Seminar Consultants, Inc.
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