SAS Visual Analytics App (Mobile) Essentials - Requirements, Configuration and Troubleshooting

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Table of Contents:

Introduction
Requirements
Configurations
Usage and Troubleshooting
Conclusion

Introduction:

Overview of SAS Visual Analytics App (Mobile):

The SAS Visual Analytics App (Mobile) enables users to access and interact with reports on mobile devices.
Available for both iOS and Android platforms.
Supports interactive filtering, drilling down, and report navigation.
Objectives of this article:
- To understand installation and configuration.
- To learn best practices for mobile visual analytics.
- To troubleshoot common issues effectively.

What Is SAS Visual Analytics App?

SAS Visual Analytics App is a companion application to SAS Visual Analytics. It is a free mobile app that enables users to view the reports that are created in SAS Visual Analytics, and to share insights with anyone, anywhere.
Using SAS Visual Analytics App, you can view and share charts and reports on Apple or Android devices. These include iPads, iPhones, and Android tablets and smartphones…
SAS Visual Analytics App provides comparable features to the desktop report viewer, including support for the following tasks:
- download charts and reports from your organisation's servers
- view charts and reports in standard or expanded mode
- view and make comments about charts and reports

Requirements:

System & Network Requirements:

Operating System Requirements:
- iOS: Latest iPhone and iPadOS versions are recommended.
- Android: Requires recent OS versions for best performance.
SAS Server Compatibility:
- SAS Viya or SAS 9.x backend required.
- Ensure proper network and firewall settings to allow secure access.
Authentication & Security:
- Supports Single Sign-On (SSO) & OAuth-based authentication.
- Data security policies need to be properly configured.
Manage Mobile Devices: SAS Help Center

Configurations:

Configuration & Setup at SAS Server-side:

Add Mobile Devices to Allowlist or Denylist: SAS Help Center: Mobile: How To
Configuring User Permissions:
- Ensure users have proper role-based access control settings.
- Lack of permissions can cause authentication failures.

Configuration & Setup at Client-side:

Downloading and Installing the App:
- Available on Apple App Store & Google Play Store.
- Ensure the latest version is installed to avoid compatibility issues.
Connecting to SAS Visual Analytics Server:
- Users can manually enter the server URL.
- Or open a report URL that automatically adds the server.

Usage and Troubleshooting:

SAS Visual Analytics App (Mobile):

Dashboard Navigation & User Interface:
- Home screen provides access to recent reports.
- Use filters and prompts to interact dynamically.
- Drill-down feature allows deeper data insights.
Offline Mode:
- Reports can be downloaded for offline access.
- Ensure synchronisation settings are enabled before going offline.
Data Export Options:
- Export charts and tables as images.
- Some features may require additional user permissions.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting:

Connection Issues:
- Ensure VPN or firewall settings allow mobile access.
- Incorrect server URL setup can cause login failures.
Report URL Issues (iOS-specific):
- Sometimes, clicking report links does not launch the app.
- Workaround: Open SAS Visual Analytics App first, then paste the URL in a Mobile browser.
Common Troubleshooting: SAS Help Center: Troubleshooting SAS Visual Analytics App
Enable debugging VA App for more troubleshooting:
- For Android: SAS Help Center: Collect Log Messages
- For iOS: SAS Help Center: Collect Log Messages

Insights from SAS Communities Discussion:

Challenges Shared by Users:
- Report responsiveness varies between desktop and mobile.
- Issues with resizing visualisations on mobile screens.
Solutions & Best Practices:
- Optimise the layout for different screen sizes.
- Use relative positioning of report elements.
- Use a smaller number of VA Objects for better performance (e.g.: Prompts, Container etc..)
SAS Community Discussion Reference:
- SAS Communities Post: Solved: SAS Visual Analytics Report Mobile View - SAS Support Communities

Viewing Reports on Mobile Devices:

Mobile-Specific Features:
- Gesture-based navigation for interactive analytics.
- Supports real-time updates from connected SAS servers.
How Reports Are Displayed:
- Mobile interface automatically adjusts layout.
- Users can switch between pages using tabs.
Saving Report State:
- App retains filters and drill-downs for the next session.
- Guest users cannot save the report state.

Best Practices & Performance Optimisation:

Optimising Report Performance:
- Minimise the number of visual elements on each page for a better user experience.
- Use aggregated data instead of detailed tables.
Regular Updates & Fixes:
- Always keep the app updated for new features.
- Check SAS hotfixes for resolving compatibility issues
Best Practices for Designing Reports: SAS Help Center: Additional Recommendations for Designing Reports
Responsive Layout for Precision Containers:
- Read more on Precision Container use in responsive Layout: SAS Help Center: 2025.02 (February 2025)

Conclusion:

Using the SAS Visual Analytics App (Mobile):

Summary of Key Takeaways:
- SAS Visual Analytics App (Mobile) allows dynamic report access.
- Proper configuration ensures seamless connectivity.
- Reports are available in Offline Mode.
- Troubleshooting common issues improves user experience.
Next Steps for Users:
- Try out the Visual Analytics App (Mobile) on your handheld devices.
- Explore additional SAS documentation and resources.

rchogan

Great article @Huzaifa_SAS!. This is a great summary of the mobile app functionality. I hope this will encourage more people to give VA a try on their mobile devices.

Huzaifa_SAS

@rchogan, Thank you for your feedback.