Chapter 3: Getting Started with Tasks

3.1 Introduction to Tasks and Wizards 3.2 Creating a Frequency Report 3.3 Generating HTML, PDF, and RTF Output 3.4 Creating a Listing Report 3.5 Filtering Data in a Task 3.6 Creating a Graph

Chapter 3: Getting Started with Tasks

3.1 Introduction to Tasks and Wizards
3.2 Creating a Frequency Report 3.3 Generating HTML, PDF, and RTF Output 3.4 Creating a Listing Report 3.5 Filtering Data in a Task 3.6 Creating a Graph

Objectives

Define a SAS Enterprise Guide task and wizard. Name one method of accessing tasks in SAS Enterprise Guide. State the functions of common features in the task dialog boxes.

What Is a Task?
A task is a specific type of analysis, report, or data manipulation that you can perform against data in a project. A task is typically referenced by its description.

3.01 Quiz
Select the Tasks menu in your SAS Enterprise Guide session. Which tasks might be the most helpful in working with your data?

Associating a Task with Data

Tasks are usually associated with a particular data source in the project. 2. Select a task.

1. Highlight the data in the Project Tree.

Associating a Task with Data

Tasks can also be selected from the menu in the data grid.

Tasks: Selection Pane

Each task dialog box follows a similar format that includes a Selection pane that lists the options available for that task.

Selection Pane

Tasks: Data
Select Data to define how columns are used to create the task result.

Help is displayed when a Task role is selected.

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Tasks: Titles and Footnotes

Select Titles to add descriptive titles and footnotes.

Type custom titles or footnotes.

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Tasks: Properties
Task properties can be modified to rename the task, examine task attributes, and modify the output format.

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Task Wizards
Selected tasks have a wizard format that can be used to set up the task results quickly.

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Working with Tasks

Task code, log, output data, and results are available for viewing and further analysis through tabs and menus.

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Working with Tasks

Tasks can be refreshed or modified from either the Project Tree, the Process Flow window, or the Results tab.

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Chapter 3: Getting Started with Tasks

3.1 Introduction to Tasks and Wizards

3.2 Creating a Frequency Report

3.3 Generating HTML, PDF, and RTF Output 3.4 Creating a Listing Report 3.5 Filtering Data in a Task 3.6 Creating a Graph

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Objectives

Access the One-Way Frequencies task. Generate a one-way frequency report and bar chart.

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Business Scenario
Orion management wants a report that counts the number of products offered for each category.

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One-Way Frequencies Task

The One-Way Frequencies task can be used to generate frequency counts, percentages, graphs, and statistical tests to analyze the distribution of your data.

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3.02 Multiple Choice Poll

Highlight any data source in the project and select Tasks Describe One-Way Frequencies. Which task role requires a variable assignment?
a. Analysis variables b. Frequency count c. Group analysis by

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3.02 Multiple Choice Poll Correct Answer

Highlight any data source in the project and select Tasks Describe One-Way Frequencies. Which task role requires a variable assignment?
a. Analysis variables b. Frequency count c. Group analysis by

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One-Way Frequencies: Task Roles

The One-Way Frequencies task produces a one-way frequency report for each variable included in the Analysis variables role. .

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One-Way Frequencies: Task Roles

The Group analysis role can be used to produce separate frequency reports for each unique value of a variable.

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3.03 Quiz
Open the One-Way Frequencies task again by selecting Tasks Describe One-Way Frequencies. In the Tasks Roles window, select Help and read the description for the Frequency count role.
How many variables can be assigned to this role?

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3.03 Quiz Correct Answer

Open the One-Way Frequencies task again by selecting Tasks Describe One-Way Frequencies. In the Tasks Roles window, select Help and read the description for the Frequency count role.
How many variables can be assigned to this role? 1

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One-Way Frequencies: Additional Options

Use additional options to customize the report or create a data set with frequencies and percentages.

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Generating a One-Way Frequency Report

Orion managers want a report that summarizes the number of products offered for each category.

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Exercise
This exercise reinforces the concepts discussed previously.

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Chapter 3: Getting Started with Tasks

3.1 Introduction to Tasks and Wizards 3.2 Creating a Frequency Report

3.3 Generating HTML, PDF, and RTF Output

3.4 Creating a Listing Report 3.5 Filtering Data in a Task 3.6 Creating a Graph

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Objectives

List output format options. Compare the advantages of each output format.

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Business Scenario
Orion management wants to publish, in an HTML format on the intranet, the frequency report for product categories.

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Task Output Formats

By default, SAS Enterprise Guide produces task results in SAS Report format. However you can also choose to generate HTML, PDF, RTF, or text output.

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SAS Report Format

The SAS Report format enables you to combine multiple task results into a single report. This report can be viewed in SAS applications or exported as HTML, XML, or PDF files.
Banner image Bar Chart task Summary Statistics task

One-Way Frequencies task

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3.04 Multiple Answer Poll

Which output formats would you like to use in your work?
a. b. c. d. e. HTML PDF RTF SAS Report Text

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3.05 Quiz
What are some advantages of each format?

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3.05 Quiz Correct Answer

What are some advantages of each format? HTML can be easily viewed by anyone who has a browser. RTF can be included and edited in common word processors. PDF is a good choice for printing and sharing static copies of the report. SAS Report format is useful when you combine task results or create reports to be viewed in other SAS applications. Text is simple and familiar if you use the SAS Display Manager.

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Summary of Output Formats

HTML
Software required for viewing outside of SAS Enterprise Guide Any browser (Internet Explorer)

RTF

PDF

SAS Report

Text

Any word Adobe Other SAS Any text processor Reader applications viewer (Microsoft (Notepad) Word) No (Only with code) No Yes (File No New (Only with Report) code) Yes Yes

Ability to combine Yes No results into a (Tools (Only with single document HTML code) Document) Ability to edit No results in viewing software Results formatted No for printing
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Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Default Output Format

The default output format can be set under Tools Options Results General. Custom options can also be set for each of the output formats.

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Overriding the Default Output Format

The properties of individual tasks can be modified to override the default format and produce other types of results.

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Modifying Output Format

This demonstration illustrates modifying the properties of a task to produce HTML, PDF, RTF, or text output.

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3.06 Quiz (Live Web Only)

1. Double-click on any One-Way Frequencies task in the project. On the Results tab, select Modify Task.
2. Select Properties Edit Results. 3. Select Customize results formats, styles, and behaviors and select the HTML style. 4. In the drop-down list, change the style to EGDefault. 5. Select OK Run. Select Yes when you are prompted to replace the results.

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3.06 Quiz Correct Answer

Confirm the results. Results might be different if you used the One-Way Frequencies task results from the Level 2 or Level 3 exercise.

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Chapter 3: Getting Started with Tasks

3.1 Introduction to Tasks and Wizards 3.2 Creating a Frequency Report 3.3 Generating HTML, PDF, and RTF Output

3.4 Creating a Listing Report

3.5 Filtering Data in a Task 3.6 Creating a Graph

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Objectives

Access the List Data task. Set report options. Group the report.

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Business Scenario
The Marketing Department at Orion Star would like to create a customer list that includes ID, name, and age group. A separate report should be generated for each country.

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List Data Task

The List Data task displays rows of data in a data set, including options to group or sum columns. Group rows.

Display each row.

Sum columns.
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List Data: Task Roles

The List variables role indicates the columns that are included in the report. Numeric variables can be assigned to the Total of role to calculate a sum.

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List Data: Group Analysis by Role

The Group analysis by role can be used to create a separate report section for each unique value of a variable.

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3.07 Quiz
1. Open any data source in your current project. 2. Select Describe List Data in the data grid. 3. Select Options from the Selection pane. Which option can be used to eliminate the Row Number column from the report?

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3.07 Quiz Correct Answer

Which option can be used to eliminate the Row Number column from the report?

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Using the List Data Task to Create a Report

This demonstration illustrates how to use the List Data task to create a listing report.

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Chapter 3: Getting Started with Tasks

3.1 Introduction to Tasks and Wizards 3.2 Creating a Frequency Report 3.3 Generating HTML, PDF, and RTF Output 3.4 Creating a Listing Report

3.5 Filtering Data in a Task

3.6 Creating a Graph

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Objectives

Filter data directly in a task. Using various operators, build multiple filter criteria.

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Business Scenario
The Marketing Department at Orion Star wants to run a special promotion targeted at high-activity Orion Club members who were born in 1970 or later.

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Filtering Input Data

The Edit button enables you to apply filters on the input data to select which rows should be included in the task or wizard.

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Edit Data and Filter Window

The Edit Data and Filter window enables you to build multiple filters using operators and data values.

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Filtering Data in a Task

This demonstration illustrates using the Edit and Filter Data window to modify the input data for a task.

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Exercise
This exercise reinforces the concepts discussed previously.

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Chapter 3: Getting Started with Tasks

3.1 Introduction to Tasks and Wizards 3.2 Creating a Frequency Report 3.3 Generating HTML, PDF, and RTF Output 3.4 Creating a Listing Report 3.5 Filtering Data in a Task

3.6 Creating a Graph

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Objectives

Name the types of graphs that are supported in SAS Enterprise Guide. State the differences among the output formats that are supported in SAS Enterprise Guide. Create a bar chart.

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Business Scenario
To better understand the demographics of the Orion Star customers, management wants to see a comparison of average customer age by country.

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Graphs Using SAS Enterprise Guide

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Types of Graphs
The Graph menu includes all of the advanced graph tasks as well as the wizards.

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Output Formats for Graphs

Different graph formats enable you to produce interactive and non-interactive results.

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3.08 Multiple Answer Poll

Which types of graphs would you like to use to display your data? a. Bar chart b. Pie chart c. Line plot d. Scatter plot e. Surface plot f. Map g. Other

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Bar Chart Wizard

The Bar Chart wizard enables you to do the following: 1. select and filter the data 2. assign variables to roles 3. customize appearance 4. set titles and footnotes

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3.09 Quiz
An example of a graph created with the Bar Chart wizard is shown below. What would you like to modify to further enhance the display?

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3.09 Quiz Correct Answer

Possible modifications include the following: rounding values to the nearest dollar changing the output format adding more descriptive axis labels changing the shape of the bars changing the color of reference lines

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Bar Chart: Advanced View

To make further enhancements to the graph, you might need to open the task in Advanced View, which gives you access to additional options that are not available in the wizard. After you run a task in Advanced View, you cannot return to the wizard.

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Bar Chart Task: Advanced View

The Advanced View of the Bar Chart task includes additional options, such as changing bar shape, formatting data values, and modifying reference lines.

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Setup for the Poll

1. Open any data source in the project and select Graph Bar Chart Wizard. 2. In step 2, choose any column for the Bars role and select Finish. 3. In the Project Tree or Process Flow window, right-click on the Bar Chart task icon and select Open Open in Advanced View.

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3.10 Multiple Choice Poll

Which item from the Selection pane enables you to define custom colors for each of the bars? a. Bar Chart b. Bars c. Layout d. Advanced

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3.10 Multiple Choice Poll Correct Answer

Which item from the Selection pane enables you to define custom colors for each of the bars? a. Bar Chart b. Bars c. Layout d. Advanced

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Bar Chart Task: Final Results

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Creating a Bar Chart

This demonstration illustrates how to use the Bar Chart task to create a graph.

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Exercise
This exercise reinforces the concepts discussed previously.

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Chapter Review
1. What is a task?

2. What selection panes of the task dialog boxes are common to most tasks?

3. What is the default output format for any report?

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Chapter Review Answers

1. What is a task? A task is a specific type of analysis, report, or data manipulation that you can perform against data in a project.
2. What selection panes of the task dialog boxes are common to most tasks? The selection panes common to most tasks are Data, Titles, and Properties. 3. What is the default output format for any report? SAS Report

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Chapter Review
4. How can you specify a different output format for a specific task result?

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Chapter Review Answers

4. How can you specify a different output format for a specific task result?
To specify a different report format for a specific result, select the Properties pane for the task, select the Edit button, and select the Results pane. Select the Customize result formats, styles, and behavior radio button. Select the desired output format and style.

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Chapter Review
5. There are two types of reports: summary and detailed reports. What type of report does the One-Way Frequencies task produce and what type of report does the List Data task produce?

6. A bar chart can be created via the Bar Chart wizard. In the wizard, can you change the properties of a column (for instance, specify a format or a label)? If not, how can you do so?

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Chapter Review Answers

5. There are two types of reports: summary and detailed reports. What type of report does the One-Way Frequencies task produce and what type of report does the List Data task produce? The One-Way Frequencies task produces a summary report and the List Data task produces a detailed report.
6. A bar chart can be created via the Bar Chart wizard. In the wizard, can you change the properties of a column (for instance, specify a format or a label)? If not, how can you do so? The properties of a column cannot be changed in the wizard. They can be modified in the Advanced View.
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