Date:         Tue, 18 Sep 2007 07:19:02 -0700
Reply-To:     Hari <excel_hari@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Hari <excel_hari@YAHOO.COM>
Organization: http://groups.google.com
Subject:      Efficiency Options to use while working on EG
Comments: To: sas-l@uga.edu
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Hi,

Im trying to compile a list of options (and macro statements) which an
EG user (at start of each project) could use for better management/
efficiency etc.

It would be great if I can get some more ideas. Basically Im looking
for the following kinds:-
a) Any option whose default values are different between EG and PC SAS
could be explicitly made same (so that I can mimic PC SAS results)
b) I would like to take advantage of unique environment offered by EG.
for ex 2) below
c) I would like to overcome network lag etc (server in US being
accessed from India)

Im presenting my list and the justifcation along-side. Any comments
are welcome!

1) Options ValidVarName = V7;
*--> I learned from this group recently, that EG has a default option
of variable name syntax being "Any". Since I need to use my EG
processed data in PC SAS and also with collegues this would be
better.;

2) %Put The code execution for the present project instance was
started on &Sysdate9. at &Systime.;
*--> I believe this statement has very high relevance for EG as
compared to PC SAS, since we have a seperate project log in EG wherein
we can store the log for historical runs as well. Using date time here
can help for QC etc.;

3) /*Location of your temp files/utilites*/
%put UTILLOC <%sysfunc(pathname(%sysfunc(getoption(utilloc))))> ;
%put WORK    <%sysfunc(pathname(%sysfunc(getoption(work))))> ;
*--> Since, there are lots of users logged on to the server, I can
quickly navigate to my work folder (using reflection X) to monitor my
data set sizes etc.;

4) Options nocentre linesize = 256 pagesize = 200;
*--> Nocentre is to be used because in EG the list outputs are
displayed in centre and the mouse scrolls will cause "Carpal tunnel
syndrome".
The linesize and page size have more meaning for me in EG rather in PC
SAS. Since, I cannot open any SAS data set by double-clicking in EG
(my laptop will crash because of network) so Im forced to use Proc
Print a lot. In this scenario printing as many characters as possible
in the same column (and also records in a single page) will help me to
manually scan through data quickly without the troublesome wraps and
page breaks etc.;

What are your suggestions?

hp