Sas Base Programmer Book

[Vidanovic]

Hey Brothers and Sisters,

May I use book "Base Programming for SAS 9" instead of "Base Programming using SAS 9.4" for "SAS Certified Specialist:Base Programming Using SAS 9.4" Certificate.
And if I could, what are the differences between these books and what chapters am I missing.
Any advice will be appreciated.

Thank youu 

[JosvanderVelden]

Yes you may. But the best book to use is the "SAS® Certified Specialist Prep Guide: Base Programming Using SAS® 9.4". The description on the sas bookstore page explains why. https://www.sas.com/store/books/categories/certification-guide/sas-certified-specialist-prep-guide-b... (has a link to download the contents).
If you have an older version of the prep guide you can compare the contents.

[Mark2010 · Accepted solution]

Thanks Jos,

I can add some more insight.

If your 'Base 9' book is the 5th edition, then everything in it is tested, plus additional content I will mention below. If it is 4th edition or older, then you can skip reading raw data with INFILE and INPUT statements and arrays. 

Additional content:

• Use PROC IMPORT to access non-SAS data sources.
  • Read delimited and Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) files with PROC IMPORT.
  • Use PROC IMPORT statement options (OUT=, DBMS=, REPLACE)
  • Use the GUESSINGROWS statement
• Use macro variables to simplify program maintenance.
  • Create macro variables with the %LET statement
  • Use macro variables within SAS programs.
• Restructure SAS data sets with PROC TRANSPOSE.
  • Select variables to transpose with the VAR statement.
  • Rename transposed variables with the ID statement.
  • Process data within groups using the BY statement.
  • Use PROC TRANSPOSE options (OUT=, PREFIX= and NAME=).

Also, the Specialist Prep Guide is going to include a workbook section with about 10 programming projects similar to the projects that are on the exam. The new guide almost 1/2 the cost of the old guide as well.