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The Windows version of SAS provides five main windows: Explorer, Results, Program Editor, Log and Output window. You start the system (in the student computer labs) by clicking on Start > All Programs > Statistical Software > SAS > SAS 9.1 (English). When you initiate a SAS session, three windows are visible, the Explorer, Log, and Enhanced Editor windows. The Results window is behind the Explorer window, and the Output window is behind the Log and Editor windows. The Program Editor window can be created in addition to the Enhanced Editor window by clicking on View and then Program Editor.

The Explorer Window enables you to view and manage your SAS files. You can create new libraries and new SAS files, as well as move, copy and delete files. You can also choose to show a tree diagram of your files: click in the Explorer window, and then click View > Show Tree.

In the Enhanced Editor Window , you enter, edit and submit SAS programs. This window provides some improved editing features compared to the Program Editor Window. Improvements include: color coding and syntax checking of SAS program statements, expandable and collapsible sections, and bookmarking of different sections. You can open multiple instances of the Enhanced Editor simultaneously. To execute a program in the Enhanced Editor Window, click on Run and Submit, or in the tool bar, click the icon showing “a person running”.

The Log Window displays messages about your SAS session. After running a SAS program, the Log window contains a copy of your submitted program and any notes, errors, or warnings associated with the submitted code.

****** IMPORTANT****** ALWAYS check the Log window for important notes or warnings before assuming the output is correct.

 The Output Window contains the results produced by the SAS program statements. This window automatically moves to the front of your display when output is created.

The Results Window helps you navigate and manage SAS output. It contains a tree diagram of your output, and enables you to view, save and print individual items. The Results Window also moves to the front of the display when output is created.

These five windows are the primary windows in the SAS Windows environment. Only one of them can be the current active window. The bar at the top of one of the windows will be darkened to indicate which window is the active window. To select a different window as the active window, simply click in the desired window. Alternately, you can click on “Window” in the main menu and then select the desired window from the drop down list. Buttons for the individual windows are also listed along the bottom of the screen, and you can click on any one to make it the active window.

In addition to the five main windows, the SAS Windows environment creates other windows as they are needed. Also, there are several features available to assist in using the system: a menu bar with drop down lists, a tool bar, command bar, status line and window bar.

The Menu bar is at the top of the screen. When the Enhanced Editor is the active window, the menu selections are: File , Edit, View, Tools, Run, Solutions, Window and Help. Clicking on one of these menu items produces a list of available actions. As you switch between application windows, the menu bar changes to reflect the actions that are appropriate for each window. For example, Run is not available when the Log window is the active window. Y ou can also right click within an application window to see the menu items available for that application window.

The Command bar is in the upper left hand corner, and it provides a place to type SAS commands. Most of the commands that can be typed in the command bar are also available in the pull-down menus or the tool bar.

The Tool bar provides quick access to the commands you perform most often. It is completely configurable. Tools that are not appropriate for the current active window are grayed out.

The Status Line is at the bottom of the screen and contains a message area identifying the current folder for the SAS System. The message area displays help text for menus and tools, and messages specific to the SAS application windows. The current folder (sub-directory) is the current working directory, and this can be changed during your SAS session.