Training Information

2007 Pre-Conference Training Courses:

Manipulating Data With Functions and Arrays
Instructor: Ben Cochran, The Bedford Group
Friday – 10/26/2007, 8:00AM – 4:30PM (Full Day)
This course focuses solely on the DATA step and sheds much light on the power and functionality of the many Functions in the SAS System. An in-depth look is given to the Arrays, how to create them, how they work, and how to manipulate data with them. Includes many new SAS9 functions.

Advanced SAS® Programming Techniques
Instructor: Kirk Lafler, Software Intelligence Corporation
Friday – 10/26/2007, 8:00AM – 4:30PM (Full Day)
SAS users who have acquired basic skills presented in a SAS Software Basics course and want to expand their knowledge in the DATA step as a programming language will want to attend the Advanced SAS Programming Techniques seminar. Attendees learn complex programming topics and techniques in the areas of data access, data manipulation, data management, data presentation, and much more. Topics include DATA step programming techniques including reading a variety of file formats; using column and line pointers; specifying system and language options; coding loops, ranges, and arrays; using operators and modifiers; testing and debugging techniques; reshaping columns of data; techniques on managing data; custom report writing techniques; and integrating ODS for improved output.

Generating Reports With the SAS System
Instructor: Ben Cochran, The Bedford Group
Saturday – 10/27/2007, 8:00AM – 4:30PM (Full Day)
This course teaches students how to use several of the SAS procedures (including PROC REPORT) as well as the DATA step ( data _null_ ) to generate reports. Attention is given to understanding data, as well as report requirements. Topics include: Data Preparation, Detail Reports, Summary Reports, Graphic Reports and the Output Delivery System (ODS).

PROC SQL Programming: Beyond the Basics
Instructor: Kirk Lafler, Software Intelligence Corporation
Saturday – 10/27/2007, 8:00AM – 4:30PM (Full Day)
Expand your PROC SQL skills beyond the basics with this Advanced PROC SQL Programming Techniques seminar. Numerous examples of this powerful language will be presented to improve a user’s mastery of the language while providing a better understanding of the language details to perform more complicated tasks. Topics include using case expressions, accessing dictionary tables, interfacing PROC SQL with the Macro facility, implementing table integrity constraints, undocumented and hard-to-find PROC SQL features, performing complex queries with joins and set operators, strategies for creating and using views, debugging techniques including many documented and undocumented features, and performance tuning strategies.

From %Macro to %MEND: An Introduction to the SAS Macro Language
Instructor: Art Carpenter, California Occidental Consultants
Saturday – 10/27/2007, 8:00AM – 4:30PM (Full Day)
This one-day course is designed for the SAS programmer who is new to the Macro Language. We will start at the basics and cover the fundamentals necessary to start applying SAS macros in your programs. By the end of the day you will understand how the Macro Language works, what the Macro Symbol Table is and how to values stored in it, how the SAS System uses Macro Variables, key Macro Language concepts, important SAS Macro Language Functions, and how to invoke Macros in your programs. The example Macros shown in the course materials demonstrate the power and flexibility of this part of the SAS System and will enable you to apply the functionality of the Macro Language to your own programs right away. This session is suited for the SAS user who already has a basic understanding of the Data Step and Procedure Steps, and who is new to the Macro Language facility in SAS System software. It is a beginninglevel course that assumes no prior understanding of the SAS Macro Language. It is also suitable for SAS users who want to understand the Macros found in programs then have "inherited" from other programmers.

Mining – Key element of Business Intelligence and Competing Analytics
Instructor: Morgan Wang, Florida Central University
Saturday – 10/27/2007, 8:00AM – 4:30PM (Full Day)
What are the common factors of the following companies: Neflix, Capital One, Google, and Harrah’s Entertainment? The answer is the competing analytics. How to become an analytical computer? What are the key elements of becoming an analytical computer? We will use several examples from marketing and sale perspective to provide answers to above problems.

Advanced Techniques in the SAS Macro Language
Instructor: Art Carpenter, California Occidental Consultants
Sunday – 10/28/2007, 8:00AM – 4:30PM (Full Day)
This one day course is designed for students with a good understanding of the DATA and PROC steps and who already understand the basic structure and syntax of the SAS Macro Language. The course will start with a short review of the macro basics and quickly move on topics selected to improve your macro language expertise. Several key macro functions will be introduced, explained and demonstrated. Course topics include: Macro Language Review, Using and Creating Macro Functions, Writing Dynamic Code, Controlling Your Environment, Working With SAS Data Sets, SAS Macro Libraries, and Miscellaneous Macro Topics.

Decision Tree
Instructor: Morgan Wang, Florida Central University
Sunday – 10/28/2007, 8:00AM – 4:30PM (Full Day)
Decision trees is the easiest and most popular data mining tool. However, it is a powerful tool as well. In many conditions, decision trees is the best tool to use. In this short course, we will discuss the fundamental theory of decision trees and use couple example to illustrate the usefulness of decision trees.