SAS programming for the faint of heart

When we published the first edition of SAS For Dummies a couple of years ago, we received feedback from readers around the topic of SAS programming. In the book's introduction, we stated that the book doesn't cover the SAS programming language, but that there are many other fine books that do.

There were two main reactions:

"Wow, look at all of the SAS stuff I can do without having to write programs!"
This crowd appreciated learning about the SAS features in SAS Web Report Studio, SAS Add-In for Microsoft Office, and SAS Enterprise Guide that they could use without having to dive into programs. For these readers, we helped to debunk the persistent myth that SAS is difficult to use.

and then there was this...

"Hey, what kind of SAS book doesn't cover SAS programming?"
SAS has its roots as a programming language, and a SAS book that doesn't cover that? Inconceivable!

You know what? I tend to agree with the second crowd. There is no way that SAS For Dummies will turn you into a SAS programming expert, but I believe that we would do well to introduce you to the concept of a SAS program, how to run an existing program, how to read and understand its contents, and to put you onto the path of learning more, if you choose to do so.

And so for the second edition, we added a new chapter, "SAS Programming for the Faint of Heart". These are the topics that we cover:

Demystifying the SAS Program

Running (a Program) before Walking

Reading the Log: SAS Is Telling You Something

Dancing the DATA Step

Following Procedures

A Micro Look at Macro Programming

Dipping your toe in with macro variables

Going deeper with macro functions

Ask Your Data Questions Using SQL

Subsetting: Make your data smaller

Do the math: calculate and group

Joining the crowd: combine tables

Putting It All Together in a SAS Mashup

The chapter presents several examples and builds up to this example "mashup" of SAS programming constructs.

We would love to get your feedback on these changes and on the book in general. Someday we may be asked to provide a third edition, and your opinion matters. We know the truth: you are no dummy.