Suggestion: SAS should hire a UI/UX consultant to redesign their initial training websites

[Bugsy]

As a brand new user wanting to learn how to use SAS for my upcoming college course, I've entered the world of SAS Skill Builder for Students and SAS Programming 1: Essentials. After creating my profile and watching the introductory videos, the instructions say

Using the SAS Virtual Lab....The SAS Virtual Lab already has the course files loaded for you. All you have to do is launch the lab and start using SAS Studio.

Open Instructions for using the SAS Virtual Lab

Then...Launch the SAS Virtual Lab and View the Course Files

1. In the SAS Virtual Lab block on the right side of the course, click Create User. You only have to do this step the first time you use the lab. After your lab is configured, the block refreshes with more options.

WHERE IS THE SAS VIRTUAL LAB BLOCK ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE COURSE?

I'm in a rabbit hole and can't find my way. Now I'm frustrated and cannot proceed.

I suggest SAS hire a UI/UX consultant to review how a new user tries to use the training.

[fja]

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@Bugsy wrote:

WHERE IS THE SAS VIRTUAL LAB BLOCK ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE COURSE?

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You shouldn't use sentences all in upper cases ... it is like shouting and reduces the chances to get an answer.

Good Morning @Bugsy!

... and welcome to the community! 🙂

There should be a link on the right hand side explaining how to set up the lab. 

Could you point out any differences in your screen please. To help us helping you. 🙂

Cheers 

fja

[Bugsy]

Starting with the website SAS Programming 1: Essentials, the first lesson
is Course Overview and Data Setup (Required). After watching some short
videos, next comes Setting Up Your Practice Files (Required). Next is Using
the SAS Virtual Lab which has course files. There is an OPEN button for
instructions. When the button is clicked, step 1. In the SAS Virtual Lab
block on the right side of the course, click Create User. 2. Click Virtual
Lab.
There is no virtual lab block on the right side of the screen. Where do I
go?

[fja]

Rehi ...

Just for clarifying things:

• You do use the vle webpage for accessing the course? With me it is https://vle.sas.com/course/view.php?id=6856#ActivationCheck#ActivationCheck
• You do see a page setup similar to that in my screenshot above?
• But you are missing the part displayed on the (top) right in my screenshot?
• ... and an indecent question: What browser do you use ... and could you try another one?

Cheers

[Bugsy]

Yes, I am using the same website. Now I see that going from the instruction
page, I have to back up to the original course starting page to see Launch
Virtual Lab in the right side block. I suggest the instruction sheet tell
the reader to back up to the original course description sheet.

[fja]

That might be a point ... So you are up and running? If so, please mark the thread as solved ...
... of course: enjoy the course. 🙂

[Bugsy]

Yes, I am running, but there always seem to be many choices as to which
path to go down with the SAS websites. Thank you for the guidance.

[fja]

Admittedly the SAS webpages might appear a bit weired at first glance ... same goes for the help pages (https://documentation.sas.com/doc/en/pgmsascdc/9.4_3.5/pgmsashome/home.htm). But on the upside you will find them to be pretty complete and that you get used to the structure after a while.

[Bugsy]

My next hurdle comes from my current effort in Lesson 2: Accessing Data.
After watching the video on writing a PROC CONTENTS code, it instructs me
to generate a report on the table. It asks me to write a PROC CONTENTS
step, but there's no place on the table to write the code. Where do I write
the code?

[fja · Accepted solution]

The PROC and DATA steps are entered and committed in the SAS Client of your choice ... I d suggest SAS Studio.

You would press F4 in Studio to open a new programming window to enter your code. ... and the "running man" butten does execute it.

Remark: 

It is good practice here to open new threads for any problem not related to the one that was the originial reason to open the thread.

And of course to close any resolved thread by marking an answer as "accepted solution" (and like individual contributions if they please you).

[fja]

Glad that it worked.

If there is anything else (and most probably there will be) you will find that this community is very friendly and willing to help. It is just, that most of us do this in our spare time ... so there is not always a quick response. ... but to my observation the community does pretty well most of the time. 🙂

[Bugsy]

It's good to know the community is willing to help everyone. My suggestion
to SAS to have a UI/UX analysis will point out the inevitable little
hurdles that can stop a person. It's usually something very simple, but if
you don't know, you don't know. Thanks again for your help. Happy New Year.

[fja]

Let me assure you that we have many SAS employees here that pick up suggestions of users and pipe them through the appropriate internal channels.