HP,
It's quite a daunting list! I'll do my best though. If you have follow-up questions I suggest posting them individually instead of in a large list like this.
a) If a read in raw data in to a SAS data set, by default the new table name is IMPW or some variaton of the same. Any significance for the name IMPW?
Answer:
It's simply using a prefix of IMPW for "Import Wizard". Most tasks in EG use a similar task-specific prefix to avoid potential name conflicts.
b) Each time I create a new data set the data set opens up. I unchecked the option in tools for "Open generated data/results automatically" Since am connecting to a server in US (from India) so its not feasible for me to open data sets over network. So, I turned this option off. But because of this my output doesnt open automatically and am forced to go to project explorer and double click on listing. Isnt there an easier way? Also why didnt SI create 2 radio button for not opening data and results seperately?
Answer:
You can submit that as a suggesting to tech support and we'll consider it. We actually used to have these options separate in EG 3, but found that customers had trouble locating the option that they wanted (they usually wanted to suppress opening data AND results), so we combined them.
c) When I create new library I see that we can have Name of library and also libref. In PC-SAS these 2 were one and the same but in EG these may also be different. Why is this designed so?
Answer:
When you define a library in SAS 9 metadata, you can give the library a descriptive name. It's for display purposes only and doesn't relate to traditional libname syntax. If you find it confusing, you can simply make the name and libref the same value.
d) If I create a new data set in my permenant library then the server list on my right hand side doesnt get updated automatically by showing the new data set. Why? I am forced to right click--> refresh and then reopen the SASMAIN tree and then expand my library. Isnt there an easy way?
Answer:
EG refreshes the displayed list of libraries only when you click Refresh -- this is inpart to conserve on the network traffic that might be caused when reacting to server events such as data added/removed. With your situation over a relatively slow connection, I think you would prefer this to the alternative.
e) When I use EG menu option to import raw files then the code generated by EG have this line "%eg_conditional_dropds(work.IMPW)" Im just curious to know as to whether it is possible for me to see the macro definition?
Answer:
File->Export->Export All Code: that should include the macro definitions used within the project. This particular macro deletes a table that you are about to overwrite.
f) Presently I have saved the project in Server and the codes have also been saved individually in server. Each time I save the code it asks for "Do you want to save the code". I want to override thi annoying option
Answer:
You can explicitly save the code by going to File->Save
-- that will update the server file with your current program. The prompt is meant to ensure that your program changes are not lost. When you submit a program that you've modified, it's not automatically saved. This allows you to modify a program and submit it without committing it to disk and overwriting what's already there.
g) Also, when I delete a code I want to override the pop-up for confirmation regarding delete
Answer:
You can submit that as a suggestion. EG errs on the side of caution.
h) What is the meaning of a red cross mark in the top of tabbed window on code editor?
Answer:
Most likely that there is an error in the SAS log returned from running the program.
i) How to clear the project log and code log quickly. Ctrl + N doesnt work
Answer:
There are currently no keyboard shortcuts for these operations -- only menu items.
j) If am importing raw file and want the code behind the import process, then I have to follow a circuitous process. First build the parameters of the imort using Menu,then finally press on Save button. An import task gets created on which I do right click and select "Add as code template". Isnt there a direct way to get this final code. I would have expected to have a Paste Code button (like in SPSS) when we are the stage of completed query building.
Answer:
You can also right-click and select "View Code" -- but then you need to copy/paste it to make use of it.
k) Do we have a Results window in EG? In PC SAS I could run frequency on all variables in my data sets and then navigate to the concerned variable's frequency. But I cant see such facility in EG?
Answer:
Are you talking about something like a table of contents for each results item, so you can navigate directly to a subset of the results? No, EG 4.1 doesn't have such a feature.
l) I have EG 4.1. Do I need to install any service packs on the client machine?
Answer:
Not currently, but there is a forthcoming hotfix for EG 4.1 to address some specific issues.
m) Im facing lots of issues in speed of reponse from EG because the SAS server is located in US while am accessing the same from India. Something as simple as changing the setting in Tools -- options and when I say OK for changes to take place, it takes almost 20 seconds for the menu window to go away. Can this be somehow speeded up by tweaking some setting in my client/server (Cant get a server in India)
Answer:
Probably not. Other customers with similar remote deployments use terminal server to log into a Windows PC remotely, and performance is improved because then EG and the server are much closer to each other, network-wise.
n) Continuing to m), it takes atleast 3/4 minutes even for 500 KB data set on server to open up. And each time I press scroll it again takes time to refresh etc. Is there some setting by which we can retrieve lets say only 20 or 30 rows at a time from SAS server. Would this solve the problem to some extent? Are there any better ways.
Answer:
EG already retrieves only as many rows as necessary to fill the grid display. It does not retrieve the entire data. You might want to contact tech support and describe your data access issues, including the type of data/library you are using, to see if performance can be improved.
Chris