This document provides instructions for importing CSV files and running basic analyses in SAS University Edition (UE) using a visual palette. It describes how to upload CSV files from a local computer, import them into SAS UE by dragging the files onto the visual palette, clean and rename the imported dataset, and link the imported dataset to a PROC FREQ analysis to view frequencies of key variables. The document notes that the method for selecting the visual palette changed in SAS UE version 3.6 and provides guidance for transferring data out of the SAS UE Toolwire environment.

1. SAS UE Visual Palette
craigtrim@gmail.com
May 2017
Updated July 2017

2. Upload CSV 1-3
• Import a local CSV file
• Right-click on a folder and select “Upload
Files”
• Warning:
• The downside to SAS UE is that you are
limited to 10 MB CSV files.
• Not an issue so far, but likely will be in
the near future!

3. Upload CSV 2-3
• Select your local file

4. Upload CSV 3-3
• Now you should see the CSV file in your
directory

5. Importing a CSV
1-7
New > Process Flow
UPDATE: In SAS UE 3.6 the method for
selecting the visual palette has changed.
Pre-SAS 3.6
SAS 3.6

6. Importing a CSV
2-7
• You can start to add programs by clicking
the “+” button in the upper left
• You can also drag-and-drop CSV files onto
the Palette!

7. Importing a CSV
3-7
• Drag and Drop the CSV file onto the
Visual Palette

8. Importing a CSV
4-7
• Let’s clean things up!
• Double-click the element
• Note all the information we have here:
• The generated code for importing the
CSV
• Source File Properties
• Keep the “End of Line Delimiter” as
“Default”
• Output Data
• I like to change the Data set name
• SAS will use the default data set name of
“IMPORT” – this is not very descriptive

9. Importing a CSV
5-7
• Change the Data set name
• This is a far more descriptive name for
our dataset

10. Importing a CSV
6-7
• Let’s run this process so far!
• Click the “RUN” button in the upper left
• When the process has completed
successfully, note the “Green Check
Mark” in the lower right

11. Importing a CSV
7-7
• Let’s view the output!
• Double click the element in the visual
palette
• It may take a moment or two to open the
table …
• Click on “Results”
• SAS provides a PROC CONTENTS view
automatically
• Note the alphabetic list of variables and
attributes
• It’s a good idea to scan through this and
make sure nothing seems wrong
• Click on “Output Data”
• View the actual data!

12. FREQ 1-5
• Let’s run a PROC FREQ on some key
columns!
• We want to drop another visual element
onto the palette
• This gets us an “empty” Program element
on the palette

13. FREQ 2-5
• Let’s modify the element properties!
• Right-click the new program element and
select “Properties”
• Give a name, description and work notes

14. FREQ 3-5
• Let’s write the FREQ procedure!
• If you double-click the program element
you’ll see the “CODE” view
• Write a basic FREQ procedure

15. FREQ 4-5
• Let’s wire this flow together!
• Using your mouse, highlight the little
square to the right of the first element
• This is called the “control port”
• Your cursor should turn into a “hand
icon”
• Click and drag to the little square on the
left hand side of the next element
• This will create an arrow that links the
two elements together
• Any output from one element now
becomes the input to the next element
• This is a powerful mechanism!

16. FREQ 5-5
• Let’s run it!
• As before, a succesful execution will show
green arrows on each flow element
• Double-click the FREQ element

17. Visual Palette
on SAS Enterprise in
Toolwire
• The process described in this deck was
performed on SAS UE
• Using SAS Enterprise Guide the same
process is possible
• There are a few minor differences with
respect to how elements are created and
represents on the visual palette

18. Transferring Data
out of Toolwire
• Once inside toolwire, click the “File
Transfer” icon on the top of the desktop
• A popup window will list all the data in
“My Files” on your U:/
• You may need to navigate here
• Click and download!