Favorite Things about SAS 4.2 Enterprise Guide

Are you still debating on the move to the SAS 9.2 environment? Still? Here are some things I REALLY like in the new product. Good work SAS!

1. Allows you to pick which Metadata Server to connect to on initiation. This is of EXTREME value to those who used multiple environments for development and production.
2. KPI Gui Interface (Already have a youtube video on this new functionality: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bo63l0kaqRI)
3. You can recover the EGP project file if - for some reason - Enterprise Guide crashes
4. Report Editor allows you to combine output into one file
5. Send a file from EG to Add-in to MS Office
6. Download/upload server .sas7bdat files to local machine
7. OLAP Cube Viewer ~ Percent of Total available from Right Click

 
Reference: What's New http://support.sas.com/documentation/cdl/en/whatsnew/62435/HTML/default/titlepage.htm

Creating a Shared Prompt for Multiple IMAPs and STPs (9.2)

Within SAS 9.2 you can now create shared prompts to use across information maps and stored processes.
To get to the Shared Prompt capability from SAS Management Console:

1. Move to Folders Tab

2. Create Stored Process enter 'dummy' data for STP screens until you arrive at the Parameter Entry Screen.

Name Required:
Code Repository and Source File Required (we will cancel out later and this will not be created):
3. On the parameter screen create the prompt and then select 'Save as Shared'

4. In order to use the shared prompt in Information Maps, the shared prompt must be REQUIRED. The resulting Web Report Studio reports will then show all shared prompts as required.
5. After the prompts have been created and shared ~ Cancel OUT of the STP creation screens.

Important Note: Once prompt is changed to 'Shared' there is little edit capabilities. You would need to unshare, edit, and reshare. This might affect the IMAPs that are already using the shared prompt.

Reference: http://support.sas.com/resources/papers/sgf09/355-2009.pdf

EG File Access Comes Alive in ZencosTV Video

After getting multiple requests by customers to perform this change and positive vibes from others on the prior blog post: http://sas-bi.blogspot.com/2009/02/sas-enterprise-guide-server-file-access.html I decided to bring the instructions to life in a ZencosTV Youtube Video. The video includes screens from Management Consoles for both 9.1.3 and 9.2 implementations.

Favorite Things about Web Report Studio 4.2

Included are a few of my favorite things about the new Web Report Studio 4.2 (for SAS 9.2 EBI Installations).

1. CALENDAR for prompts/filters!
2. Drag and Drop Variables in Report Widget
3. Dynamic dropdown lists (one effects the other)
4. Right Click Option Lists on Report Widgets
5. Filters/Prompts on OLAP Mulit-Dim Sources

Reference: What's New http://support.sas.com/documentation/cdl/en/whatsnew/62435/HTML/default/titlepage.htm

Windows Installation Anywhere But The C: Drive?

You might notice that after completing a SAS installation with all prompted locations pointing to a 'non-standard' drive such as D or E, that there are still some files installed at the c:\program files\sas location. These are related to the JRE. There are currently no prompts for where this should be installed even when using the 'Custom' selection to see every installation screen. In order to display the JRE location, you will need to install the JRE to the non-standard drive (found at: http://support.sas.com/resources/thirdpartysupport/index.html) and then run the installation deployment wizard from a command prompt with the -forcejreprompt option. Example: c:/sas_depot/setup.exe -forcejreprompt You will then locate the all important screen & then point SAS installation to the pre-installed JRE. Note: There is no way I have found to successfully move this component after an installation. Re-install & configuration is the safest bet.