The SAS Dummy
A SAS® blog for the rest of us![Uncovering the hidden parts of the SAS log](https://blogs.sas.com/content/sasdummy/files/2012/01/sasnews.png)
Before there was CNN or FOX News, people used to get their news from SAS. At least, that's how I imagine that people kept themselves informed. What else can explain the existence of the NEWS= system option, which helps SAS admins to surface the must-know information to the SAS community?
![Pitfalls of the LAG function](https://blogs.sas.com/content/sasdummy/files/2017/02/ProgrammingTips-3.png)
In the immortal words of Britney Spears: Oops! I did it again. At least, I'm afraid that I did. I think I might have helped a SAS student with a homework assignment, or perhaps provided an answer in preparation for a SAS certification exam. Or maybe it was a legitimate
![A SAS options viewer for SAS Enterprise Guide](https://blogs.sas.com/content/sasdummy/files/2011/12/optionsViewer.png)
On the heels of the release of the popular SAS macro variable viewer from last month, I'm providing another custom task that I hope will prove just as useful. This one is a SAS options viewer, similar in concept to the OPTIONS window in SAS display manager. You can download
![Just-in-time data prep in SAS Enterprise Guide](https://blogs.sas.com/content/sasdummy/files/2011/11/taskfilter.png)
On this blog, I've delivered a few tips about using SAS formats to stratify your data values "in place" without having to actually change your data. The most recent example addressed date and datetime variables. My previous examples included simple SAS programs that you can run in SAS display manager
![Take SAS program editor abbreviations to the next level](https://blogs.sas.com/content/sasdummy/files/2011/11/addabbrevmenu.png)
Rick posted a tip today about using abbreviations in the SAS program editor window (often referred to as the "enhanced editor"). Defining abbreviations is a great way to save keystrokes and re-use "templates" of code that you've squirreled away. (One of Rick's readers also picked up on the tip, and
![Do you mind if we dance with your DATEs (or DATETIMEs)?](https://blogs.sas.com/content/sasdummy/files/2011/11/timeseries.png)
I've been working with date-time data on a recent project, and I've come across a few SAS programs that have "opportunity for improvement" when it comes time to create reports. (Or maybe I haven't, and I contrived this entire blog post so that I could reference one of my favorite