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.
