Date:         Mon, 4 Nov 1996 15:21:55 -0600
Reply-To:     BRIAN <THARP_B@KIDS.WUSTL.EDU>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@UGA.CC.UGA.EDU>
From:         BRIAN <THARP_B@KIDS.WUSTL.EDU>
Subject:      Good SAS Book

From:   IN%"ab770%FREENET.HAMILTON.ON.CA@WUVMD.Wustl.Edu"  "gt"  1-NOV-1996 10:29:01.80
To:     IN%"SAS-L@UGA.CC.UGA.EDU"  "Multiple recipients of list SAS-L"CC:
Subj:   good sas book
 
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 01 Nov 1996 10:28:57 -0600 (CST)
 
 
>I'm wondering if anyone has any good sas book they can refer us to for
>beginners. Any good statistics book as well which can be helpful to the
>novice. Thousand thanks for your suggestions.
 
I know that several books have been written that are excellent resources for a
novice SAS user.  I have also collected some postings to this listserv that
might help you become more familiar with SAS and some different ideas about
how to become a SAS user.
 
>Sent by Sheridan Young on 21-Oct-1996 12:01:04.77
 
>Shat is the fastest way to get a novice user proficient in SAS?  Besides,
>classes at the Institute, any other ideas?
 
>Response from Stephen McDaniel on 25-Oct-1996 10:19:25.64
 
>I believe that two factors can be combined to rapidly develop junior
>programmers.  In my (possibly controverisal) opinion, it is preferable that
>the mentor have some formal training (even one course) in a programming
>language (usually PASCAL, C, C=, FORTRAN, etc.)  since this should have
>introduced them to a structured programming methodology.  A mentor should
>definitely encourage the following: self-documenting programs, well-defined
>program logic, and finding a balance between using MACROs ad-infiniteum and
>writing a new program for every application.
>
>       In brief, select a mentor that non-technical people can communicate
>(in the examples) a good introductory book in SAS, such as "SAS Applications
>Programming:  A Gentle Introduction" (Diorio), or "Applied Statistics and the
>SAS Programming Language" (Cody, Smith).
 
One that I also recommend is "SAS System for Elementary Statistical Analysis"
(Scholtzhauer, Littell).  This SAS manual can be found in most Univeristy book
stores or can be ordered from SAS Institute Inc., Box 8000 SAS Circle, Cary,
NC  27512-8000.  There is probably an easier way to get this book than writing
to them, but I don't know what you have access to there.  Anyway, this
particular manual will help you with some of the simplest problems like
invoking sas, inputting data and other initial steps that aren't always clear
to a novice of SAS.
 
>2)  The individual should independently work through (program and tinker with
>the examples) a good introductory book in SAS, such as "Applied Statistics
>and the SAS Programming Language" (Cody, Smith).
 
>Sent by Tim Berryhill 21-Oct-1996 12:01:04.77
 
>I generally start them changing a report, first just moving columns then
>adding columns, then changing the sort order.  Once they can PROC PRINT an
>existing dataset, I have them write some input statements--that is, read a raw
>file and print the SAS datsaset.  From there, it depends on what you need.  My
>strategy is to have them start by making small changes to existing code rather
>than writing from scratch.
 
This comment came from a very knowledgeable person here at the university, who
helped me with some of the basics and answered questions when I had them
(first hand knowledge is very helpful-like the people on this list or your
resident statistician).
 
>Another option is to see if you have any access to computer-based tutorials
>(there are about five).  I've only used the first one (Fundamentals of the SAS
>System) and thought it was very good.
 
>The other tutorials are:
>Reading raw data and formatting values with the data step;
>Creating, modifying, and processing variables with the data step;
>Creating tables with PROC TABULATE;
>Creating and enhancing SAS/Graph output;
>Developing custom data entry applications.
>
>Jack
 
>Sent by ? 26-Oct-1996 17:03:22.08
 
>Personally I believe that is the best way, the second best way is to pick up
>the books and start programming.  SAS also sells some video tapes on SAS/AF
>and SAS/SQL which are helpful for a broad overview.>
 
I hope this will help you as much as many of these comments have helped me.
By realizing that statistics is only a small part of what SAS is capable of
you are already off to a good beginning as a SAS programmer.