Customer Reviews

Proc SQL: Beyond the Basics Using SAS

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I purchased this book one year ago under the influence of the high ratings here, but I didn't get chance to finish it until last week. After comparing this book with the SAS SQL manual (free online PDF file available at SAS website), I came to one question, why bother to buy this book? The book is not a copy of the SAS manual, but it is written in a strikingly similar pattern yet it provides LESS information than the SAS manual; on the contrary, the SAS manual gives you more materials, more examples, better narratives, clearer explanations than this full-of-typo book.

As I learn more PROC SQL, I do appreciate the examples he offers. However, since the title is 'Beyond the Basics', I would think the book could be improved by spending less time on the basics. A title that better describes the contents is : 'The basics and beyond'.

The material on dictionary tables is helpful.

An experienced SAS programmer, I used the many helpful examples in this book to learn a lot about PROC SQL in just a few days. (I skipped the text.) I trust the few typos and obscure passages will be cleared up in a subsequent edition. I thought the sections on normalization and integrity constraints were skimpy. The book has also been favorably reviewed in The American Statistician 2005, vol. 59, no. 4, pp. 350

If you are new to PROC SQL, this is the right book. It covers all the basic queries, complex queries in simple content, some troubleshooting, and a little bit of efficiency. The layout throughout the book is very easy to read and follow. All examples contain PROC SQL codes, results, appropriate explanation, as well as part of SAS LOG and comparison in some examples. This book might be a little basic to power PROC SQL users. But compared to SAS SQL procedure user's guide, it is way better to have.

This book is okay, probably wouldn't buy if I would have flipped through it first, but ordered online. Too many examples, not enough explanation on the actual examples. Alot of examples were redundant.

I have read most of the chapters of this book. I certainly advise anyone who would like to learn SAS SQL or improve her/his SAS SQL skills.