SAS Programming 1: Essentials - Am I able to follow course with Enterprise Guide version 6.1?

[joostman1]

Hi,
I am  a newbee for SAS and saw the Programming 1 Essentials.
I followed the instructions "Course Overview and Data Setup (REQUIRED)": 
-  extracted the zip file to a networkfolder called "w:\joost"

- started a new project

- opened the program _1egpg194 and ran it, no errors, no warnings

- opened the program _2egpg194 and ran it, lots of errors (24) came, most about "ERROR: Libref XL is not assigned." and "The XLSX engine cannot be found"

Is this a showstopper for me to follow this course? Or are the options to run it anyway?

[joostman1]

I found this page: https://communities.sas.com/t5/SAS-Communities-Library/How-to-access-data-for-SAS-Programming-1-cour...

giving instructions to add these two programs, but it looks different than the programs I am using. Also I noticed in the instructions the following note:

Note: The data setup programs and instructions have been revised to accommodate earlier versions of SAS. These changes work for all users. If you downloaded the zip file prior to 02OCT2018 and have not set up data, please download a new version of the zip file before performing Task 2.

[andreas_lds]

Which SAS version do you use?

proc setinit shows the version or execute

%put _automatic_;

There should be variables like sysver and sysvlong in your log.

[joostman1]

Ah! 🙂

I see below:
AUTOMATIC SYSVER 9.4
AUTOMATIC SYSVLONG 9.04.01M1P120413

But when I start the Enterprise Guide, I see 6.1 M1HF6 (6.100.0.4180) (64 bit)

[Cynthia_sas]

Hi:
The XLSX engine was not production until 9.4 M2. You are still working with 9.4M1. If you cannot get upgraded to 9.4M2, then your options are to either 1) use SAS University Edition in a Virtual Machine with SAS Studio for practicing -- it is running 9.4M5 or
2) use SAS OnDemand for Academics on our Cloud server for practicing -- it is running 9.4 M5.

Unfortunately, the newest Programming 1 course uses the XLSX engine extensively and the note you found referred to another, minor issue that needed to be adjusted for earlier versions of SAS.

This issue of not having at least 9.4M2 is one that will slow down your work in the course until you can either get upgraded at your site or you use one of the alternate methods that are free for non-commercial learning purposes. Here are the links for either of those 2 options:
1. SAS University Edition in a Virtual Machine https://support.sas.com/edu/locations.html?ctry=us&locationId=ca (videos for your operating system are under this link)
2. SAS OnDemand for Academics – Independent Learner account http://support.sas.com/software/products/ondemand-academics/#s1=2 and here’s a video about how to register and log in: https://www.sas.com/apps/webnet/video-sharing.html?bcid=3794695462001

Cynthia