Customer Reviews

Power User's Guide to SAS Programming

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Each chapter in this small book (90 pages) addresses a different topic, all of which are advanced and novel. The author, Phil Holland, is an internationally known SAS consultant and frequent presenter at SAS conferences. The book oozes with expertise. Holland emphasizes the use of inexpensive, commonly available tools instead of expensive special-purpose products. Topics include efficient SAS coding, data warehouses, passing data and results between SAS and R, using Perl instead of SAS/IntrNet to create web applications, distributing organization charts without SAS/IntrNet, and using Enterprise Guide for clinical trials. Obviously, that is a lot to cover in 90 pages, so the book is not an exhaustive introduction. Instead Holland shares the best and most interesting tips that he has found.

This book is not for beginners. Some of the chapters (such as the one on R) contain more code than explanation so you have to know something about the topic to understand. Less advanced SAS users should consider Holland's other book, Saving Time and Money Using SAS, which is more intermediate in level. However, power users will likely feel that the book is well worth its modest price.

Whether your clinical programming challenges are system resources and efficiency or technical techniques to improve speed and quality of deliverables, this book will help you reach your goals. The content and SAS examples are well organized for easy understanding. Flowcharts and screenshots help to explain more automated, data-driven and complex systems. This technical book fills the gap between existing SAS books and practical experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Learn to take advantage of SAS version 9 features without any guess work!