Date:         Sat, 13 Nov 1999 19:54:11 -0500
Reply-To:     Jules Bosch <bsi@NAC.NET>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Jules Bosch <bsi@NAC.NET>
Organization: Bosch Systems Inc.
Subject:      Re: **** Test Your Code ****
Comments: To: SAS-L News Group <sas-l@uga.cc.uga.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

It seems rather foolish to download code from the Internet, plug it in,
and think you are flying high.  Farther, whining about the code when it
doesn't "work" is tantamount to whining about a virus that just blew out
your HD.  We just have to be brighter than this.

A prudent programmer is going to download code, print it, study it, look
up the functions and statements that are not familiar, and, finally,
annotate it to work in the programmer's environment.  Only after the
code is understood should it be given a spin. Any approach short of this
is more freeloading then honestly seeking help.

Besides the sophisticated SAS code that daily passes the SAS-L
threshold, there is an abundance of sample SAS code available for
downloading at the SAS Institute web site.  In this thread it is
important to note that all this "free" SAS code comes with the warning,
"SAS Institute does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of  any
material presented in this file."

Finally, two caveats come to mind: One, "let the buyer beware," and two
"You only get what you pay for."  I don't know who stated the first; my
mother stated the second.


Jules Bosch