Preparing complex network data for VA

[gordononline]

I have a large dataset (just over 15 million rows) that contains details of entities and their reported owners.  I've loaded the data into Viya VA and I'm able to produce a network diagram from that, but the client wants the network diagram output to a list table.

From the table I've been given there are multiple cross entity/owner relationships where an entity can be an onwer and an owner an enity - the client wants all identified relationships.  The data has elements such as  entity 'a' is owned by 'b', entity 'c' is owned by 'b', and entity 'd' is owned by 'c'.  An example of the output required is a two column table (without the explanation in brackets):

entity | owner

a | b                           (a is owned by b)

c | b                           (c is owned by b)

d |c                            (d is onwed by c)

d |b                           (d is owned by b which also owns c)   etc.

I'm not sure if I should try to create a SAS table that I can use in the list table in SAS first and load that table into Viya VA, or to continue to try to wirite filters and calculated data items and add other objects in VA to massage the 15 million row data into the form required for the list table (which will be filtered by 'owner'), or to try to find a way to use the VA network analysis object and to write the result out to a list table.  The network analysis object in VA handles the data well when it's filtered and produces a diagram that looks correct, but as  the client wants the details in a table, I'm struggling to make this all happen in VA.  Is there anyway that I can make the network analysis process write to a list table in the report.  I've tried various filters, data mappings and joins but haven't been able to create the list table that the client wants.  

Doing the work in Viya VA seems to be the better option as running the SQL code to produce the recursive macro to create the table in SAS 9.4 takes hours with my current code.

Another option may be to run a stored process in VA - but I haven't tried this yet and am not sure if it's practical or even possible.

Thanks

[FalkoSchulz]

Are you able to share some details about your input table? When you say your client requires a list of all identified relationships - this would be just a plain distinct list of your source/target columns - similar to your example output table? A similar table structure is shown when you maximize your network analysis object (top right corner -> maximize view). Are you after something like that? You could also export this data if required.

Anything more targeted towards real relationship analysis and especially the calculation of network metrics, is unfortunately not something you can easily replicate in any other visual. The heavy lifting to calculate the graph layout and structure is done on the server using SAS Viya's NETWORK actions (https://go.documentation.sas.com/doc/da/pgmsascdc/v_055/casactml/casactml_network_details01.htm). If you are comfortable with SAS Studio - you can certainly achieve something similar by executing the actions manually and adjust related output format as required. The doc link also has a number of examples you could use to get started.

Hope this helps! Falko

[gordononline]

Thanks for your message Falko. 

Long time since I've seen you - we met a few times when you were in SAS Canberra.  I'm still working in the fraud detection area - but as a contractor now.  Seems a fair few of the Canberra/Sydney SAS team ended up in USA - but still useful to have access to you expertise from Australia.

I'll have a look at the (top right corner -> maximize view) element in the network analysis object when I get back to work tomorrow.

Cheers

Doug