How to ask a question on SAS-L

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Herewith some notes on getting answers faster, from SAS-L.

Contents

[edit] Provide Test Data 

DATA Test;
infile cards;
input Var1 $ 
      Var2 $ 
      Nmbr
;cards;
value1.1 value2.1 0.1
value1.2 value2.2 1.2
;
PROC SQL; describe table &SysLast.;
          quit;

See Preparing Sample Data for SAS-L

[edit] Documentation, Documentation, Documentation

[edit] HIPO

  • Hierarchical:
  • Input: Where does the data come from?
  • Output: What do you want?
  • Process: What are you thinking you have to do to get this output?

[edit] Vocabulary

What's your job description? We need to know where you are coming from and what vocabulary you use.

  1. SAS: data sets have observations and variables
  2. Database: tables have rows and columns,
    1. rows are identified by: Sequence Number
    2. Primary Key: what column uniquely identifies the row?
    3. Primary Key, composite: what combination of columns uniquely identifies the row?
    4. Foreign Keys: what columns contain keys to primary key in another table?
    5. Facts: otherwise known as The Data

[edit] Problem Statement

  • What do you think you want to do? See Output, above.
  • Constraints: effort, money, time?

Also known as The Hard Choices: accurate, cheap, or fast.

  • Why do you think you have to do it Your Way?

[edit] Caveat

You are requesting help from unpaid volunteers.

  • Do not assume that you can carry on a private correspondence with anyone who answers your Q.
  • Do not assume that code provided works; Testing is up to you.
  • Say thanks, every once in a while; especially when you meet answerers in person.

[edit] References

--macro maven == the radical programmer 10:32, 7 December 2007 (EST)

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