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{{Short description|Statistical software}}
{{Multiple issues
| advert=November 2009
| fancruft=September 2009
}}
{{Infobox software
| name = SAS
| logo = [[File:SAS logo horiz.gif]]svg
| screenshot =
| screenshot = [[Image:SAS 9 on Microsoft Windows.png|300px|SAS 9 on Microsoft Windows screen shot]]
| caption = SAS 9 on Microsoft Windows
| developer = [[SAS Institute]]
| programming language = [[C (programming language)|C]]
| released = {{start date and age|1972}}
| latest_release_version = 9.2
| latest release version = 9.4M9
| latest_release_date = March, 2008
| latest release date = {{Start date and age|2025|06|17}}
| operating_system = [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], [[IBM mainframe]], [[Unix]]/[[Linux]], [[OpenVMS|OpenVMS Alpha]]
| operating system = [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], [[IBM mainframe]], [[Unix]]/[[Linux]], [[OpenVMS|OpenVMS Alpha]]
| genre = [[numerical analysis]]
| genre = [[Data analysis]], artificial intelligence software
| license = [[Proprietary software|proprietary]]
| license = [[Proprietary software|Proprietary]]
| website = [http://www.sas.com www.sas.com]
| website = {{URL|https://www.sas.com}}
}}
 
'''SAS''' (previously "'''Statistical Analysis System'''")<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sas.com/en_us/company-information.html#history|title=About SAS|access-date=5 July 2017}}</ref> is data and artificial intelligence software developed by [[SAS Institute]] for [[data management]], advanced analytics, [[multivariate analysis]], [[business intelligence]], and [[predictive analytics]].
{{Wikibooks|SAS}}
 
SAS was developed at [[North Carolina State University]] from 1966 until 1976, when SAS Institute was incorporated. SAS was further developed in the 1980s and 1990s with the addition of new statistical procedures, additional components and the introduction of [[JMP (statistical software)|JMP]]. A [[Point and click|point-and-click]] interface was added in version 9 in 2004. A [[social media analytics]] product was added in 2010. [[SAS Viya]], a suite of analytics and artificial intelligence software, was introduced in 2016.
'''SAS''' (pronounced "sass", originally ''Statistical Analysis System'') is an integrated system of software products provided by [[SAS Institute Inc.]] that enables programmers to perform:
 
==Technical overview and terminology==
* [[data entry]], [[Information retrieval|retrieval]], [[Data management|management]], and [[Data mining|mining]]
SAS is a data analysis and artificial intelligence software suite that can [[Data mining|mine]], alter, manage and retrieve data from a variety of sources and perform statistical analysis on it.<ref name="encycl"/> SAS provides a graphical point-and-click user interface for non-technical users and more through the [[SAS language]].<ref name="encycl">{{Cite book | title = Encyclopedia of Research Design | doi = 10.4135/9781412961288 | year = 2010 | isbn = 9781412961271 | last1 = Salkind | first1 = Neil }}</ref>
* [[report]] writing and graphics
* [[Statistics|statistical analysis]]
* [[business plan]]ning, [[forecasting]], and [[Decision support system|decision support]]
* [[operations research]] and [[project management]]
* [[Quality control|quality improvement]]
* [[Application software|applications]] development
* [[data warehousing]] ([[extract, transform, load]])
* [[platform independent]] and [[remote control software|remote computing]]
 
SAS programs have DATA steps, which retrieve and manipulate data, PROC (procedures) which analyze the data, and may also have functions.<ref name="court"/> Each step consists of a series of statements.<ref name="DelwicheSlaughter2012">
In addition, SAS has many business solutions that enable large-scale software solutions for areas such as [[IT management]], [[human resource management]], [[Managerial finance|financial management]], [[business intelligence]], [[customer relationship management]] and more.
{{cite book
| author1=Delwiche, Lora D.
| author2=Susan J. Slaughter
| title=The Little SAS Book: A Primer: a Programming Approach
| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WtZZ6sYA2_QC&pg=PA6|year=2012
| publisher=SAS Institute
| isbn=978-1-61290-400-9
| pages=6}}</ref>
 
The DATA step has executable statements that result in the software taking an action, and declarative statements that provide instructions to read a data set or alter the data's appearance.<ref name="court"/> The DATA step has two phases: compilation and execution. In the compilation phase, declarative statements are processed and syntax errors are identified. Afterwards, the execution phase processes each executable statement sequentially.<ref name="Li2013">
==Description==
{{cite book
<!-- Image with inadequate rationale removed: [[Image:SAS 8 on IBM Mainframe3.png|SAS 8 on an [[IBM Mainframe]] under 3270 emulation|right|thumb]] -->
| author=Li, Arthur
SAS is driven by SAS [[Computer program|programs]], which define a sequence of operations to be performed on data stored as [[Table (database)|tables]]. Although non-programmer [[graphical user interfaces]] to SAS exist (such as the SAS Enterprise Guide), these [[GUI]]s are most often merely a front-end that automates or facilitates the generation of SAS programs. The functionalities of SAS components are intended to be accessed via [[application programming interface]]s, in the form of [[Statement (programming)|statements]] and [[Procedural programming|procedures]].
| title=Handbook of SAS DATA Step Programming
| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kBL_aEB6RX0C&pg=PA149
| date=10 April 2013
| publisher=CRC Press
| isbn=978-1-4665-5238-8|page=149}}</ref> Data sets are organized into tables with rows called "observations" and columns called "variables". Additionally, each piece of data has a descriptor and a value.<ref name="court">
{{cite court
| litigants =SAS Institute Inc. and World Programming Limited
| court =England and Wales High Court (Chancery Division)
| date =July 23, 2010
| url=http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Ch/2010/1829.html#para36 }}</ref><ref>
{{cite web
| first =Debbie
| last =Buck
| title =A Hands-On Introduction to SAS DATA Step Programming
| publisher =SAS Institute
| ___location =SUGI 30
| url =http://www2.sas.com/proceedings/sugi30/134-30.pdf
| access-date =October 2, 2013}}</ref>
 
PROC statements call upon named procedures. Procedures perform analysis and reporting on data sets to produce statistics, analyses, and graphics. There are more than 300 named procedures and each one performs a substantial body of statistical work.<ref name="court"/> PROC statements can also display results, sort data or perform other operations.<ref name="DelwicheSlaughter2012"/>
A SAS program has three major parts:
 
SAS macros are pieces of code or variables that are coded once and referenced to perform repetitive tasks.<ref name="BassSolutions2007">
# the DATA step
{{cite book
# procedure steps (effectively, everything that is not enclosed in a DATA step)
| author1=Bass, N. Jyoti
# a macro language
| author2=K. Madhavi Lata & Kogent Solutions
| title=Base Sas Programming Black Book, 2007 Ed
| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o9nVu8Xsd6kC&pg=PA365
| date=1 September 2007
| publisher=Dreamtech Press
| isbn=978-81-7722-769-7
| pages=365–}}</ref>
 
SAS data can be published in HTML, PDF, Excel, RTF and other formats using the Output Delivery System, which was first introduced in 2007.<ref>
SAS Library Engines and Remote Library Services allow access to data stored in external data structures and on remote computer platforms.
{{cite journal
| last =Tolbert
| first =William
| title =How to Win Friends and Influence People with the SAS Output Delivery System
| journal =Clinical Medicine & Research
| volume =8
| issue =3–4
| pages =189–190
| date =December 1, 2010
| doi =10.3121/cmr.2010.943.c-c1-04 | pmc =3006529
}}</ref> SAS Enterprise Guide is SAS's point-and-click interface. It generates code to manipulate data or perform analysis without the use of the SAS programming language.<ref>
{{cite journal
| last =Der
| first =G.
| author2=B. S. Everitt
| title =Basic Statistics using SAS Enterprise Guide
| journal =Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Series A
| volume =172
| issue =2
| page =530
| date =March 10, 2009
| doi =10.1111/j.1467-985X.2009.00588_2.x
| doi-access =free
}}</ref>
 
{{anchor|Components}}The SAS software suite has more than 200 add-on packages, sometimes called components<ref name="Schermerhorn2011">{{cite book|author=John R. Schermerhorn|title=Exploring Management|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qNVP2L6iKi0C&pg=SL3-PA22|date=11 October 2011|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-0-470-87821-7|pages=3}}</ref><ref name="berk">
The DATA step section of a SAS program,<ref>[http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Ch/2010/1829.html#para36]</ref> like other [[Fourth-generation programming language|database-oriented fourth-generation programming languages]] such as [[SQL]] or [[Focus software|Focus]], assumes a default [[file structure]], and automates the process of identifying files to the [[operating system]], opening the input file, reading the next record, opening the output file, writing the next record, and closing the files. This allows the user/programmer to concentrate on the details of working with the data within each record, in effect working almost entirely within an implicit [[program loop]] that runs for each record.
{{cite web
| publisher=University of California, Berkeley
| title=An Introduction to the SAS System
| first=Phil
| last= Spector
| url=https://www.stat.berkeley.edu/classes/s100/sas.pdf
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012065352/http://www.stat.berkeley.edu/classes/s100/sas.pdf
| archive-date=October 12, 2013
| access-date=October 4, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.nesug.org/Proceedings/nesug12/ma/ma10.pdf
| title=Determine what SAS Version and Components are available
| first=David
| last=Chapman
| publisher=NESUG
| year=2012
| access-date=2013-10-06
| archive-date=2018-04-08
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408080713/http://www.nesug.org/Proceedings/nesug12/ma/ma10.pdf
| url-status=dead
}}</ref> Some of these SAS components, i.e. add on packages to Base SAS include:<ref name="encycl"/>
<ref>
{{Cite journal | last1 = Hallahan | first1 = C. | title = Data Analysis Using SAS | doi = 10.1177/0049124195023003006 | journal = Sociological Methods & Research | volume = 23 | issue = 3 | pages = 373–391 | year = 1995 | s2cid = 62723637 }}</ref>
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|* SAS/STAT – Statistical analysis
 
* SAS/GRAPH – Graphics and presentation
All other tasks are accomplished by procedures that operate on the [[data set]] (SAS' terminology for "table") as a whole. Typical tasks include printing or performing [[statistics|statistical analysis]], and may just require the user/programmer to identify the data set. Procedures are not restricted to only one behavior and thus allow extensive customization, controlled by mini-languages defined within the procedures. SAS also has an extensive [[SQL]] procedure, allowing SQL programmers to use the system with little additional knowledge.
 
* SAS/OR – Operations research
There are [[Macro (computer science)|macro]] programming extensions, that allow for rationalization of repetitive sections of the program. Proper [[imperative programming|imperative]] and [[procedural programming]] constructs can be simulated by use of the "open code" macros or the [[Interactive Matrix Language]] SAS/IML component.
 
* SAS/ETS – [[Econometrics]] and [[Time Series Analysis]]
Macro code in a SAS program, if any, undergoes [[preprocessor|preprocessing]]. At [[Run time (computing)|runtime]], DATA steps are compiled and procedures are interpreted and run in the sequence they appear in the SAS program. A SAS program requires the SAS software to run.
 
* SAS/IML – Interactive matrix language
Compared to [[general-purpose programming language]]s, this structure allows the user/programmer to concentrate less on the technical details of the data and how it is stored, and more on the information contained in the data. This blurs the line between user and programmer, appealing to individuals who fall more into the 'business' or '<nowiki>research</nowiki>' area and less in the '[[information technology]]' area, since SAS does not enforce (although it recommends) a structured, centralized approach to data and infrastructure management.
 
* SAS/AF – Applications facility
SAS runs on [[IBM mainframe]]s, [[Unix]], [[Linux]], [[OpenVMS|OpenVMS Alpha]], and [[Microsoft Windows]]. Code is "almost" transparently moved between these environments. Older versions have supported [[PC-DOS]], the [[Apple Macintosh]], [[OpenVMS|VMS]], [[VM/CMS]], [[PrimeOS]], [[Data General|Data General AOS]] and [[OS/2]].
 
* SAS/QC – Quality control
== Early history ==
 
* SAS/INSIGHT – [[Data mining]]
SAS was conceived by [[Anthony J. Barr]] in 1966.<ref>Greenberg & Cox, et al. 1978:181. Reference to the creation of SAS by Barr in 1966.</ref> As a [[North Carolina State University]] graduate student from 1962 to 1964, Barr had created an [[analysis of variance]] modeling language inspired by the notation of statistician [[Maurice Kendall]], followed by a [[multiple regression]] program that generated machine code for performing algebraic transformations of the raw data. Drawing on those programs and his experience with structured data files,<ref>Barr contributed to the development of the [[Formatted File System|NIPS Formatted File System]] while working for IBM at the Pentagon from 1964 - 1966. FFS was one of the first data management systems to take advantage of files with a defined structure for efficiencies in data storage and retrieval.</ref> he created SAS, placing statistical procedures into a formatted file framework. From 1966 to 1968, Barr developed the fundamental structure and language of SAS.
 
* SAS/PH – [[Clinical trial]] analysis
In January 1968, Barr and [[James Goodnight]] collaborated, integrating new multiple regression and analysis of variance routines developed by Goodnight into Barr's framework.<ref name="Attr76">(Barr & Goodnight, et al. 1976:"The SAS Staff") Attribution of contributions to SAS 72 and SAS 76 to Barr, Goodnight, Service, Perkins, and Helwig.</ref><ref>(Barr & Goodnight et al. 1979:front matter) Attribution of the development of various parts of the system to Barr, Goodnight, and Sall.</ref> Goodnight's routines made the handling of basic statistical analysis more robust, and his later implementation ([[#SAS 76|in SAS 76]]) of the [[general linear model]] increased the analytical power of the system.{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}} By 1971, SAS was gaining popularity within the academic community. One strength of the system was analyzing experiments with missing data, which was useful to the [[pharmaceutical company|pharmaceutical]] and [[agriculture|agricultural]] industries, among others.
 
* SAS Enterprise Miner – data mining
In 1973, [[John Sall]] joined the project, making extensive programming contributions in econometrics, time series, and matrix algebra. Other participants in the early years included Caroll G. Perkins, Jolayne W. Service, and Jane T. Helwig. Perkins made programming contributions. Service and Helwig created the early documentation.<ref name="Attr76"/>
 
* SAS Enterprise Guide – GUI-based code editor & project manager
In 1976, [[SAS Institute|SAS Institute, Inc.]] was incorporated by Barr, Goodnight, Sall, and Helwig.
 
* SAS Enterprise BI – Suite of [[business intelligence]] applications
==Components==
 
* SAS Grid Manager – Manager of SAS grid computing environment
SAS consists of a number of components, which organizations separately license and install as required.
 
* SAS Customer Intelligence 360 – Customer intelligence}}
;SAS Add-In for Microsoft Office: A component of the SAS Enterprise Business Intelligence Server, is designed to provide access to data, analysis, reporting and analytics for non-technical workers (such as business analysts, power users, ___domain experts and decision makers) via menus and toolbars integrated into Office applications.
 
==History==
;Base SAS: The core of SAS, the so-called '''Base SAS Software''', manages data. '''SAS procedures software''' analyzes and reports the data. The [[SQL]] procedure allows SQL (Structured Query Language) programming in lieu of data step and procedure programming. Library Engines allow transparent access to common data structures such as Oracle, as well as pass-through of SQL to be executed by such data structures. The '''Macro facility''' is a tool for extending and customizing SAS software programs and reducing overall program verbosity. The '''DATA step debugger''' is a programming tool that helps find logic problems in DATA step programs. The '''Output Delivery System''' (ODS) is an extendable system that delivers output in a variety of formats, such as SAS data sets, listing files, [[Rich Text Format|RTF]], [[PDF]], [[XML]], or [[HTML]]. The '''SAS windowing environment''' is an interactive, [[graphical user interface]] used to run and test SAS programs.
 
===Origins===
;BI Dashboard: A plugin for Information Delivery Portal. It allows the user to create various graphics that represent a broad range of data. This allows a quick glance to provide a lot of information, without having to look at all the underlying data.
The development of SAS started in 1966 after [[North Carolina State University]] re-hired [[Anthony James Barr|Anthony Barr]]<ref name="NourseGreenberg1978">{{cite journal|last1=Nourse|first1=E. Shepley|last2=Greenberg|first2=Bernard G.|last3=Cox|first3=Gertrude M.|last4=Mason|first4=David D.|last5=Grizzle|first5=James E.|last6=Johnson|first6=Norman L.|last7=Jones|first7=Lyle V. |last8=Monroe |first8=John |last9=Simons|first9=Gordon D.|title=Statistical Training and Research: The University of North Carolina System |journal=International Statistical Review / Revue Internationale de Statistique|volume=46|issue=2|year=1978|page=171|issn=0306-7734 |doi=10.2307/1402812|jstor=1402812}}</ref> to program his analysis of variance and regression software so that it would run on [[IBM System/360]] computers.<ref name="AgrestiMeng2012">{{cite book|author1=Alan Agresti|author2=Xiao-Li Meng|title=Strength in Numbers: The Rising of Academic Statistics Departments in the U.S.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kPGJUiUCJZkC&pg=PA177|date=2 November 2012|publisher=Springer|isbn=978-1-4614-3649-2 |page=177}}</ref> The project was funded by the [[National Institutes of Health]].<ref name="fda"/> and was originally intended to analyze agricultural data<ref name="berk"/><ref name="“little">{{cite news|title=Little-known software giant to raise its profile |first=Emery |last=Dalesio |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1916&dat=20010505&id=nPpIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oAUNAAAAIBAJ&pg=3476,727402 |date=May 5, 2001|publisher=Associated Press|access-date=April 8, 2014}}</ref> to improve crop yields.<ref name="seventyeight">{{cite news |first=David |last=Kaplan |newspaper=Fortune |url=https://money.cnn.com/2010/01/21/technology/sas_best_companies.fortune/|title=SAS: A new no. 1 best employer|date=January 22, 2010 |access-date=April 8, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111129010236/http://money.cnn.com/2010/01/21/technology/sas_best_companies.fortune/ |archive-date=November 29, 2011}}</ref> Barr was joined by student [[James Goodnight]], who developed the software's statistical routines, and the two became project leaders.<ref name="NourseGreenberg1978"/><ref name="AgrestiMeng2012"/><ref name="timeline"/> In 1968, Barr and Goodnight integrated new [[multiple regression]] and [[analysis of variance]] routines.<ref name="Attr76">{{cite journal |first=Anthony |last=Barr |author2=James Goodnight |title=The SAS Staff|year=1976|quote=SAS 72 and SAS 76 are attributed to Barr, Goodnight, Service, Perkins, and Helwig}}</ref><ref>(Barr & Goodnight et al. 1979:front matter) Attribution of the development of various parts of the system to Barr, Goodnight, and Sall.</ref> In 1972, after issuing the first release of SAS, the project lost its funding.<ref name="fda">{{cite web |title=SAS Institute FDA Intellectual Partnership for Efficient Regulated Research Data Archival and Analyses |url=https://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/dockets/00n0001/ts00016.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000824120039/http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/dockets/00n0001/ts00016.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 24, 2000 |publisher=Duke University|date=April 12, 2000|access-date=September 28, 2011}}</ref> According to Goodnight, this was because NIH only wanted to fund projects with medical applications.<ref name="intervieww">{{cite web|title=Oral History Interview with Jim Goodnight|date=July 22, 1999|url=http://docsouth.unc.edu/sohp/I-0073/excerpts/excerpt_976.html|access-date=April 8, 2014|publisher=Oral Histories of the American South}}</ref> Goodnight continued teaching at the university for a salary of $1 and access to mainframe computers for use with the project,<ref name="fda"/> until it was funded by the [[University Statisticians of the Southern Experiment Stations]] the following year.<ref name="AgrestiMeng2012"/><ref name="intervieww"/> [[John Sall]] joined the project in 1973 and contributed to the software's econometrics, time series, and matrix algebra. Another early participant, Caroll G. Perkins, contributed to SAS' early programming. Jolayne W. Service and Jane T. Helwig created SAS's first documentation.<ref name="Attr76"/>
 
The first versions of SAS, from SAS 71 to SAS 82, were named after the year in which they were released.<ref name="expert">{{cite web
;Data Integration Studio: Provides [[extract, transform, load]] (ETL) services.
| title=History of SAS version
| url=http://www.globalstatements.com/sas/differences/
| publisher=Global Statements|first=Rick|last=Aster
| access-date=October 4, 2013}}</ref> In 1971, SAS 71 was published as a limited release.<ref name="encycl"/><ref>
{{cite book
| first=Anthony|last=Barr |author2=James Goodnight |author3=James Howard
| publisher=North Carolina State University|year=1971
| title=Statistical analysis system
|oclc=5728643 }}</ref> It was used only on IBM mainframes and had the main elements of SAS programming, such as the DATA step and the most common procedures, i.e. PROCs.<ref name="expert"/> The following year a full version was released as SAS 72, which introduced the MERGE statement and added features for handling missing data or combining data sets.<ref>{{cite book
| last=Service
| first=Jolayne
| title=A User's Guide to the Statistical Analysis System
| publisher=North Carolina State University
| year=1972
| url=http://www.worldcatlibraries.org/oclc/1325510
| access-date=2006-10-16
| archive-date=2007-09-29
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929121443/http://www.worldcatlibraries.org/oclc/1325510
| url-status=dead
}}</ref> The development of SAS was described by the [[CNBC]] website as an "[[inflection point]]" in the [[history of artificial intelligence]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ioannou |first=Lori |date=2019-11-04 |title=Jim Goodnight, the 'Godfather of A.I.,' predicts the future fate of the US workforce |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/04/godfather-of-ai-predicts-the-future-fate-of-the-us-workforce.html |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref> In 1976, Barr, Goodnight, Sall, and Helwig removed the project from North Carolina State and incorporated it as the [[SAS Institute|SAS Institute, Inc.]]<ref>
{{cite magazine
| first=Mary
| last=Shacklett
| date=September 5, 2013
| url=https://www.techrepublic.com/blog/big-data-analytics/see-if-the-r-language-fits-in-your-big-data-toolkit/
| magazine=Tech Republic
| access-date=October 3, 2013
| title=See if the R language fits in your big data toolkit}}</ref>
 
===Development===
;SAS Enterprise Business Intelligence Server: Includes both a suite of [[business intelligence]] (BI) tools and a platform to provide uniform access to data. The goal of this product is to compete with [[Business Objects (company)|Business Objects]] and [[Cognos]]' offerings.
SAS was redesigned in SAS 76. The INPUT and INFILE statements were improved so they could read most data formats used by IBM mainframes. Generating reports was also added through the PUT and FILE statements. The ability to analyze [[general linear model]]s was also added<ref>{{cite book
| last=Barr
| first=Anthony J.
| author2=James H. Goodnight
| author3=John P. Sall
| author4=Jane T. Helwig
| title=SAS Programmer's Guide, 1979 Edition
| publisher=SAS Institute, Inc.
| year=1979
| url=http://www.worldcatlibraries.org/oclc/4984363
| oclc=4984363
| access-date=2006-10-16
| archive-date=2007-09-29
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929104344/http://www.worldcatlibraries.org/oclc/4984363
| url-status=dead
}}</ref> as was the FORMAT procedure, which allowed developers to customize the appearance of data.<ref name="expert"/> In 1979, SAS 79 added support for the IBM VM/[[Conversational Monitor System|CMS operating system]] and introduced the DATASETS procedure. Three years later, SAS 82 introduced an early macro language and the APPEND procedure.<ref name="expert"/>
 
Beginning with SAS 4, released in 1984, SAS releases have followed a sequential naming convention not based on year of release.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SAS Releases Timeline |url=https://robslink.com/SAS/democd67/sas_releases.htm |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=robslink.com}}</ref> SAS version 4 had limited features, but made SAS more accessible. Version 5 introduced a complete macro language, array subscripts, and a full-screen interactive user interface called Display Manager.<ref name="expert"/> In 1985, SAS was rewritten in the [[C programming language]]. This enabled the SAS' MultiVendor Architecture which allows the software to run on [[UNIX]], [[MS-DOS]], and [[Windows]]. It was previously written in [[PL/I]], [[Fortran]], and [[assembly language]].<ref name="timeline"/><ref name="expert"/>
;Enterprise Computing Offer (ECO): Not to be confused with Enterprise Guide or Enterprise Miner, ECO is a product bundle.
 
In the 1980s and 1990s, SAS released a number of components to complement Base SAS. SAS/GRAPH, which produces graphics, was released in 1980, as well as the SAS/ETS component, which supports econometric and time series analysis. A component intended for pharmaceutical users, SAS/PH-Clinical, was released in the 1990s. The [[Food and Drug Administration]] standardized on using SAS/PH-Clinical for new drug applications in 2002.<ref name="timeline">
;Enterprise Guide: SAS Enterprise Guide is a Microsoft Windows client application that provides a guided mechanism to use SAS and publish dynamic results throughout an organization in a uniform way. It is marketed as the default interface to SAS for business analysts, statisticians, and programmers. Though Data Integration Studio is the true ETL tool of SAS, Enterprise Guide can be used for the ETL of smaller projects.
{{cite news
| url=http://www.wral.com/business/story/9211429/
| title=SAS corporate timeline|date=March 3, 2011
| access-date=October 17, 2011}}</ref> Vertical products like SAS Financial Management and SAS Human Capital Management (then called CFO Vision and HR Vision respectively) were also introduced.<ref>
{{cite web
| url=http://www.sas.com/company/about/history.html#s1=5
| title=SAS history
| publisher=SAS Institute
| access-date=October 4, 2013}}</ref>
 
[[JMP (statistical software)|JMP]] was developed by SAS co-founder [[John Sall]] and a team of developers, in order to take advantage of the graphical user interface introduced in the 1984 [[Apple Macintosh]].<ref name="CoxGaudard2009">
;Enterprise Miner: A [[data mining]] tool.
{{cite book
| author1=Cox, Ian |author2=Marie A. Gaudard
| author3=Philip J. Ramsey |author4=Mia L. Stephens |author5=Leo Wright
| title=Visual Six Sigma: Making Data Analysis Lean
| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xdg9nkBFh1UC&pg=PA23
| access-date=16 November 2012|date=21 December 2009
| publisher=John Wiley & Sons
| isbn=978-0-470-50691-2
| page=23}}</ref> JMP's name originally stood for "John's Macintosh Project".<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Mishra |first=Mrigendra Nath |date=2018-01-01 |title=Identify critical success factors to implement integrated green and Lean Six Sigma |url=https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLSS-07-2017-0076 |journal=International Journal of Lean Six Sigma |volume=13 |issue=4 |pages=765–777 |doi=10.1108/IJLSS-07-2017-0076 |issn=2040-4166|url-access=subscription }}</ref> JMP was shipped for the first time in 1989. Updated versions of JMP were released continuously after 2002 with the most recent release in 2016.<ref name="jumptwo">{{cite news
| first=John
| last=Saul
| newspaper=JMPer Cable
| url=http://www.jmp.com/about/newsletters/jmpercable/pdf/26_winter_2010.pdf
| title=JMP is 20 Years Old
| date=Winter 2010
| access-date=October 13, 2011
| archive-date=July 21, 2013
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130721134831/http://www.jmp.com/about/newsletters/jmpercable/pdf/26_winter_2010.pdf
| url-status=dead
}}</ref><ref>
{{cite news
| first=Adrian
| url=http://www.drdobbs.com/tools/228200027?queryText=SAS%2BJMP
| last=Bridgewater|newspaper=Dr. Dobb's Journal
| title=JMP Genomics 5: Data Visualization & Exploration|date=November 3, 2010
| access-date=May 31, 2012}}</ref><ref>
{{cite web
| url=http://www.pharmasug.org/proceedings/2012/DG/PharmaSUG-2012-DG01.pdf
| work=PharmaSUG 2012
| title=Proficiency in JMP Visualization
| first=Charles
| last=Shipp
| author2=Kirk Paul Lafler
| access-date=December 30, 2012}}</ref><ref name="thirtyeight">
{{cite web
| first=James
| last=Taylor
| title=First Look – JMP Pro
| date=August 10, 2011
| access-date=May 31, 2012
| url=http://jtonedm.com/2011/08/10/first-look-jmp-pro/}}</ref> In January 2022, JMP became a [[wholly owned subsidiary]] of SAS Institute, having previously been a business unit of the company.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.jmp.com/en_us/company/about-us.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221216205905/https://www.jmp.com/en_us/company/about-us.html |archive-date=2022-12-16 |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=www.jmp.com |language=en}}</ref>
 
SAS 6 was used throughout the 1990s and was available on a wider range of operating systems, including [[Macintosh]], [[OS/2]], [[Silicon Graphics]], and [[PRIMOS]]. SAS introduced new features through dot-releases. From 6.06 to 6.09, a user interface based on the Windows paradigm was introduced and support for SQL was added.<ref>
;Information Delivery Portal: Allows users to setup personalized homepages where they can view automatically generated reports, dashboards, and other SAS data structures.
{{cite book
| first=Kirk Paul
| last=Lafler
| title=PROC SQL: Beyond the Basics Using SAS, Second Edition
| url=https://www.sas.com/store/books/categories/usage-and-reference/proc-sql-beyond-the-basics-using-sas-second-edition/prodBK_62432_en.html
| publisher=SAS Institute
| isbn=978-1-61290-027-8| year=2013
}}</ref> Version 7 introduced the Output Delivery System (ODS) and an improved text editor. Subsequent releases improved upon the ODS. For example, more output options were added in version 8. The number of operating systems that were supported was reduced to [[UNIX]], [[Windows]] and [[z/OS]], and [[Linux]] was added.<ref name="supported systems">
{{cite web
| url=http://support.sas.com/supportos/list
| title=Supported Operating Systems
| publisher=SAS Institute
| access-date=October 6, 2012}}</ref> SAS 8 and SAS Enterprise Miner were released in 1999.<ref name="timeline"/>
 
===Recent history===
;Information Map Studio: A client application that helps with building information maps.
In 2002, SAS Text Miner software was introduced. Text Miner [[text mining|analyzes text data]] like emails for patterns in [[business intelligence]] applications.<ref>{{cite news|first=Emery|last=Dalesio|title=Text Miner program to bolster business intelligence |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1734&dat=20020205&id=ljUgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GFMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4836,3215963 |date=February 5, 2002|access-date=April 8, 2014|publisher=Associated Press}}</ref> In 2004, SAS Version 9.0 was released, referred to as "Project Mercury" internally, and was designed to make SAS accessible to a broader range of business users.<ref name="sixtyfour">{{cite news
| first=Dave
| last=Steven
| publisher=Pennsylvania State University
| url=http://css.its.psu.edu/news/nlsu02/sas.html
| title=SAS is Starting to Look Even Better...
| date=July 29, 2002
| access-date=October 17, 2011
| archive-date=April 15, 2012
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415161357/http://css.its.psu.edu/news/nlsu02/sas.html
| url-status=dead
}}</ref><ref name="sixtyfive">
{{cite news
| first=Rick
| last=Whiting
| newspaper=InformationWeek
| url=http://informationweek.com/news/18700087?queryText=SAS+announced
| title=SAS Extends Business Intelligence to the Masses
| date=March 31, 2004
| access-date=October 17, 2011}}</ref> SAS 9.0 added custom user interfaces based on the user's role and established the point-and-click user interface of SAS Enterprise Guide as the software's primary [[graphical user interface]] (GUI).<ref name="sixtyfour"/> The [[Customer Relationship Management]] (CRM) features were improved in 2004 with SAS Interaction Management.<ref name="sixtythree">
{{cite news
| first=Dennis
| last=Callaghan
| newspaper=eWeek
| url=http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Finance-IT/SAS-to-Add-to-Analytical-CRM-Arsenal/
| title=SAS to Add to Analytical CRM Arsenal
| date=September 26, 2002
| access-date=October 17, 2011}}</ref> In 2008, SAS announced Project Unity, designed to integrate data quality, data integration, and [[master data management]].<ref name="sixtysix">
{{cite news
| first=Antone
| last=Gonsalves
| newspaper=InformationWeek
| url=http://informationweek.com/news/software/bi/211100027?queryText=SAS+announced
| title=SAS, DataFlux Unveil 'Project Unity'
| date=October 10, 2008
| access-date=October 17, 2011}}</ref>
 
[[SAS Institute Inc v World Programming Ltd]] was a lawsuit with developers of a competing implementation, [[World Programming System]], alleging that they had infringed SAS's copyright in part by implementing the same functionality. The case was referred by the United Kingdom's [[High Court of Justice]] to the [[European Court of Justice]] on 11 August 2010.<ref name="ecj reference">
;OLAP Cube Studio: A client application that helps with building OLAP Cubes.
{{cite web
| url=http://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf?docid=82474&doclang=en&mode=&part=1
| title=Reference for a preliminary ruling from High Court of Justice (Chancery Division) (England and Wales) made on 11 August 2010 – SAS Institute Inc. v World Programming Ltd
| publisher=European Court of Justice
| access-date=May 19, 2012}}</ref> In May 2012, the [[European Court of Justice]] ruled in favor of World Programming, finding that "the functionality of a computer program and the programming language cannot be protected by copyright."<ref>
{{cite web
| url=http://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2012-05/cp120053en.pdf
| title=The functionality of a computer program and the programming language cannot be protected by copyright
| publisher=European Court of Justice
| access-date=May 19, 2012}}</ref>
 
A free version of SAS was introduced for students in 2010.<ref name="fortyeight">{{cite news|first=Quentin|last=Hardy|newspaper=Forbes|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/quentinhardy/2011/06/09/sas-ibms-bad-culture-how-well-win/|title=SAS-We Spurned IBM, Now to Win|date=June 9, 2011|access-date=October 17, 2011}}</ref> SAS Social Media Analytics, a tool for social media monitoring, engagement and [[sentiment analysis]], was also released that year.<ref name="twentyseven">
;SAS Web OLAP Viewer for Java: Web based application for viewing OLAP cubes and data explorations.
{{cite news
| first=Paul
| last=Greenberg
| work=ZDNet
| url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/the-crm-watchlist-part-ii-the-usual-suspects/?tag=mantle_skin;content
| title=The CRM Watchlist Part II: The Usual Suspects
| date=December 31, 2010
| access-date=October 4, 2013}}</ref> SAS Rapid Predictive Modeler (RPM), which creates basic analytical models using [[Microsoft Excel]], was introduced the same year.<ref name="ninetyfour">{{cite web
| publisher=UCLA Academic Technology Services
| url=http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/sas/seminars/sas_macros_introduction/default.htm
| title=Computing Seminars: Introduction to SAS Macro Language
| access-date=October 4, 2013
| archive-date=September 27, 2013
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927123945/http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/sas/seminars/sas_macros_introduction/default.htm
| url-status=dead
}}</ref><ref name="sixtyseven">
{{cite news
| first=Cindi
| last=Howson
| newspaper=InformationWeek
| url=http://informationweek.com/blog/software/228900553?queryText=SAS+announced
| title=SAS Takes Predictive Analytics Mainstream|date=September 7, 2010
| access-date=October 4, 2013}}</ref> In 2010, JMP 9 included a new interface for using the [[R (programming language)|R programming language]] and an add-in for MS Excel.<ref>{{cite web|title=New Features in JMP 9 |url=http://www.jmp.com/support/downloads/pdf/jmp9/jmp9_new_features.pdf |publisher=JMP|access-date=December 30, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915204632/https://www.jmp.com/support/downloads/pdf/jmp9/jmp9_new_features.pdf|archive-date=15 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Adriian|url=http://www.drdobbs.com/tools/228200027?queryText=SAS%2BJMP |last=Bridgewater|newspaper=Dr. Dobb's Journal|title=JMP Genomics 5: Data Visualization & Exploration |date=November 3, 2010|access-date=May 31, 2012}}</ref> The following year, a [[High Performance Computing]] platform was made available in a partnership with [[Teradata]] and [[EMC Greenplum]].<ref>
{{cite news
| first=Nicole
| last=Laskowski
| publisher=Tech Target
| url=http://searchbusinessanalytics.techtarget.com/news/2240102699/SAS-ups-big-data-ante-with-high-performance-computing-platform
| title=SAS ups 'big data' ante with high-performance computing platform
| date=October 26, 2011
| access-date=October 4, 2013}}</ref><ref>
{{cite web
| first=Madan
| last=Sheina
| author2=Surya Mukherjee
| publisher=Ovum
| url=http://ovum.com/2011/10/17/sas-adds-in-memory-to-high-performance-computing/
| title=SAS adds in-memory to high-performance computing
| date=October 17, 2011}}</ref> In 2011, the company released SAS Enterprise Miner 7.1.<ref>
{{cite web
| first=James
| last=Taylor
| title=First Look – SAS Enterprise Miner 7.1
| url=http://jtonedm.com/2011/11/11/first-look-sas-enterprise-miner-7-1/
| date=November 11, 2011
| access-date=October 4, 2013}}</ref> The company introduced 27 data management products from October 2013 to October 2014 and updates to 160 others.<ref>{{cite news|title=SAS expands cloud analytics business|first=Nestor|last=Arellano|date=October 22, 2014 |url=http://www.itworldcanada.com/article/sas-expands-cloud-analytics-business/98450l|newspaper=IT World Canada|access-date=November 13, 2014}}</ref> At the SAS Global Forum 2015, SAS announced several new products that were specialized for different industries, as well as new training software.<ref>{{cite news|title=SAS enlarges its palette for big data analysis|first=Joab|last=Jackson|date=April 27, 2015|url=http://www.itworld.com/article/2915374/sas-enlarges-its-palette-for-big-data-analysis.html|publisher=IT World|access-date=May 22, 2015|archive-date=November 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181128121843/https://www.itworld.com/article/2915374/sas-enlarges-its-palette-for-big-data-analysis.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 
The company has invested in the development of artificial general intelligence, or "strong AI", with the goal of advancing deep learning and natural language processing to the point of achieving cognitive computing.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Radu |first=Alex |date=March 28, 2017 |title=We've only built 'weak AI' so far, says SAS chief data scientist |url=https://channeldailynews.com/news/weve-only-built-weak-ai-so-far-says-sas-chief-data-scientist/53586 |work=Channel Daily News}}</ref>
;SAS Web OLAP Viewer for.NET:
 
In 2019, SAS announced that it would be investing $1 billion into the development of advanced artificial intelligence, deep learning, natural language processing and [[machine learning]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=East |first=Forbes Middle |title=SAS Announces $1 Billion Investment In AI |url=https://www.forbesmiddleeast.com/innovation/technology/sas-announces-1-billion-investment-in-ai |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=Forbes ME |language=en-US}}</ref> It announced an additional $1 billion investment into these areas in 2023, particularly for industries such as finance, insurance, government, health care and energy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ohnesorge |first=Lauren |date=May 9, 2023 |title=SAS to spend $1 billion on AI as global tech race heats up |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/inno/stories/news/2023/05/09/sas-to-spend-one-billion-global-ai-race-heats-up.html |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=Triangle Inno}}</ref> In September 2023, the company announced its expansion of research into the applications of [[generative AI]] in analytics, data management and modeling.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-18 |title=SAS unveils innovations and partnerships during Explore 2023 {{!}} IT World Canada News |url=https://www.itworldcanada.com/article/sas-unveils-innovations-and-partnerships-during-explore-2023/546983 |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=www.itworldcanada.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
;SAS/ACCESS:Provides the ability for SAS to transparently share data with non-native datasources.
 
==Software products==
;SAS/ACCESS for PC Files:Allows SAS to transparently share data with [[personal computer]] applications including [[Microsoft Office Access|MS Access]] and [[Microsoft Office Excel]].
As of 2011, SAS's largest set of products was its line for [[customer intelligence]]. SAS modules for web, social media and marketing analytics may be used to profile customers and prospects, attempt to predict their behaviors, and manage communications.<ref>{{cite news|date=May 11, 2004|newspaper=InformationWeek|first=Rick|last=Whiting|url= http://www.informationweek.com/sas-ships-customer-intelligence-app/d/d-id/1025026?|title=SAS Ships Customer-Intelligence App|access-date=January 7, 2014}}</ref>
 
SAS also provides the SAS Fraud Framework, which is designed to monitor transactions across different networks and use analytics to identify anomalies that are indicative of fraud.<ref>{{cite news|title=Social network analysis, predictive coding enlisted to fight fraud|newspaper=Government Computer News|date=May 10, 2013|access-date=December 11, 2013 |url=https://gcn.com/Articles/2013/05/10/Social-media-analysis-predictive-coding-enlisted-to-fight-fraud.aspx?Page=3 |first=Rutrell |last=Yasin}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=IRS, States Call on IBM, LexisNexis, SAS to Fight Tax Fraud|first=Reed|last=Albergotti|date=July 22, 2013|url= https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887324144304578619811891715262|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.insurancenetworking.com/news/business_intelligence_analytics_cloud_computing_fraud_insurance_technology-12069-1.html|newspaper=Insurance Networking News|date=March 25, 2009|first=Bill|last=Kenealy|access-date=December 11, 2013|title=Assessing Business Intelligence|archive-date=January 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150114063845/http://www.insurancenetworking.com/news/business_intelligence_analytics_cloud_computing_fraud_insurance_technology-12069-1.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> This software uses artificial intelligence to monitor income and assets.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Malta commits €3m to implement AI-powered SAS for tax evasion detection |url=https://aibc.world/news/malta-commits-e3m-to-implement-ai-powered-sas-for-tax-evasion-detection/ |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=AIBC |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=SAS and Microsoft partnership focuses on banking risk |url=https://www.technologydecisions.com.au/content/cloud-and-virtualisation/news/sas-and-microsoft-partnership-focuses-on-banking-risk-1333501510 |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=www.technologydecisions.com.au |language=en}}</ref>
;SAS/AF:Applications facility, a set of application development tools to create customized desktop GUI applications; a library of drag-and-drop widgets are available; widgets and models are fully object oriented; SCL programs can be attacted as needed.
 
SAS has various analytical tools related to [[risk management]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Saudi EXIM Bank chooses SAS technology for model risk management |url=https://ibsintelligence.com/ibsi-news/saudi-exim-bank-chooses-sas-technology-for-model-risk-management/ |access-date=2024-04-19 |website=IBS Intelligence |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=SAS and Microsoft partnership focuses on banking risk |url=https://www.technologydecisions.com.au/content/cloud-and-virtualisation/news/sas-and-microsoft-partnership-focuses-on-banking-risk-1333501510 |access-date=2024-04-19 |website=www.technologydecisions.com.au |language=en}}</ref>
;SAS/SCL: SAS Component Language, allows programmers to create and compile object-oriented programs. Uniquely, SAS allows objects to submit and execute Base/SAS and SAS/Macro statements.
 
SAS has products for specific industries, such as government, retail, telecommunications, aerospace, marketing optimization, and [[high-performance computing]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sas.com/products/|title=Products & Solutions Index|publisher=SAS|access-date=December 12, 2013}}</ref> The company also has a suite of analytical products related to health care and life sciences.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-02-09 |title=SAS Institute to debut analytics platform for healthcare at HIMSS17 |url=https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/sas-institute-debut-analytics-platform-healthcare-himss17 |access-date=2024-04-18 |website=Healthcare IT News |language=en}}</ref>
;SAS/ASSIST:Early [[point-and-click]] interface to SAS, has since been superseded by SAS Enterprise Guide and its client–server architecture.
 
===Comparison to other products===
;SAS/C
{{See also|Comparison of statistical packages}}
 
In a 2005 article for the ''[[Journal of Marriage and Family]]'' comparing statistical packages from SAS and its competitors [[Stata]] and [[SPSS]], Alan C. Acock wrote that SAS programs provide "extraordinary range of data analysis and data management tasks," but were difficult to learn and use.<ref name="Acock"/> SPSS and Stata, meanwhile, were both easier to learn but had less capable analytic abilities, though these could be expanded with paid (in SPSS) or free (in Stata) add-ons. Acock concluded that SAS was best for [[power user]]s, while occasional users would benefit most from SPSS and Stata.<ref name="Acock">{{cite journal|pages=1093–1095|title=SAS, Stata, SPSS: A Comparison |journal=Journal of Marriage and Family |doi=10.1111/j.1741-3737.2005.00196.x|volume=67|issue=4 |date=November 2005 | last=Acock |first=Alan C}}</ref> A 2014 comparison by the [[University of California, Los Angeles]], gave similar results.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/mult_pkg/compare_packages.htm |title=Compare Packages |publisher=University of California, Los Angeles |access-date=12 January 2014 |archive-date=12 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112080108/http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/mult_pkg/compare_packages.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>
;SAS/CALC: Is a discontinued spreadsheet application, which came out in version 6 for mainframes and PCs, and didn't make it further.
 
Competitors such as [[Revolution Analytics]] and [[Alpine Data Labs]] advertise their products as considerably cheaper than SAS's. In a 2011 comparison, Doug Henschen of ''[[InformationWeek]]'' found that start-up fees for the three are similar, though he admitted that the starting fees were not necessarily the best basis for comparison.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.informationweek.com/software/information-management/low-cost-options-for-predictive-analytics-challenge-sas-ibm/d/d-id/1099191?page_number=1 |title=Low-Cost Options For Predictive Analytics Challenge SAS, IBM |first=Dough |last=Henschen |work=InformationWeek|date=July 26, 2011 |access-date=January 12, 2014}}</ref> SAS's business model is not weighted as heavily on initial fees for its programs, instead focusing on revenue from annual subscription fees.<ref>{{cite news|title=SAS revenue up 12% in 2011|work=The News & Observer |___location= Raleigh, North Carolina |date=January 20, 2012 |url=http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/01/20/1790587/sas-revenue-up-12-in-2011.html|last=Ranii|first=David |access-date=January 12, 2014}}</ref><ref name="SoftBus">{{cite web|last=Turchin|first=Brian|title=SAS Profile -- Going Its Own Way |url=http://www.cabnr.unr.edu/gf/apst650/sassoftbusiness.pdf|publisher=Software Business Online|access-date=2014-04-10|archive-date=2015-09-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923195653/http://www.cabnr.unr.edu/gf/apst650/sassoftbusiness.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
;SAS/CONNECT:Provides ability for SAS sessions on different platforms to communicate with each other.
 
===SAS Viya===
;SAS/DMI:A programming interface between interactive SAS and ISPF/PDF applications. Obsolete since version 5.
{{Main|SAS Viya}}
In 2016, SAS Viya, an artificial intelligence, machine learning, analytics and data management platform,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Henschen |first1=Doug |title=SAS goes cloud but will customers follow? |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/sas-goes-cloud-but-will-customers-follow/ |website=ZDnet |access-date=16 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Lindsay |title=SAS selling ML and analytics suite on Azure Marketplace |url=https://www.theregister.com/2022/09/27/sas_ml_analytics_azure/ |access-date=2024-04-19 |website=www.theregister.com |language=en}}</ref> was introduced with a new architecture optimized for running SAS software in public clouds. Viya also increased interoperability with open source software, allowing models to be built in tools such as [[R (software)|R]], [[Python (programming language)|Python]] and [[Jupyter]], and then executed on SAS's Cloud Analytics Services (CAS) engine.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Baer |first1=Tony |title=SAS is on the brink of generation change |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/sas-is-on-the-brink-of-generation-change/ |website=ZDnet |access-date=16 June 2023}}</ref> In 2020, a further architectural revamp in Viya 4 [[Containerization (computing)|containerized]] the software.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Avidon |first1=Eric |title=SAS Viya gets architectural overhaul in latest update |url=https://www.techtarget.com/searchbusinessanalytics/news/252484754/SAS-Viya-gets-architectural-overhaul-in-latest-update |website=TechTarget |access-date=16 June 2023}}</ref> SAS sells Viya alongside SAS 9.4, and has not positioned it as a replacement for SAS 9.4.<ref>{{cite web |title=Relationship between SAS 9.4 and SAS Viya |url=http://documentation.sas.com/doc/en/vdmmlcdc/8.1/whatsdiff/n0m306a3p9spz7n1ew3j9scjiqjf.htm |website=SAS Help Center |access-date=16 June 2023}}</ref>
 
In 2023, two new [[software as a service]] (SaaS) modules for SAS Viya were released as a private preview: Workbench, for use in creating AI models, and App Factory, for use in creating AI applications. Both modules support multiple programming languages and are expected to become generally available in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ghoshal |first=Anirban |date=2023-09-13 |title=SAS Viya analytics suite gets SaaS-based AI app development tools |url=https://www.infoworld.com/article/3706378/sas-viya-analytics-suite-gets-saas-based-ai-app-development-tools.html |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=InfoWorld}}</ref> SAS Viya also became available on [[Microsoft Azure]] Marketplace under a pay-as-you-use model in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SAS strengthens bond with Microsoft. Should we expect a buyout instead of IPO? |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2022/10/03/sas-strengthens-bond-with-microsof-ipo-buyout.html |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=www.bizjournals.com}}</ref>
;SAS/EIS:A menu-driven system for developing, running, and maintaining an [[enterprise information systems]].
 
In 2023, the company introduced SAS Health, a common health data model built on the SAS Viya platform.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-27 |title=SAS launches a transformative healthcare platform |url=https://www.digitalhealth.net/2023/09/sas-health-launches-new-analytical-healthcare-platform/ |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=Digital Health}}</ref>
;SAS/ETS:Provides [[Econometrics]] and [[Time Series]] Analysis
 
==Adoption==
;SAS/FSP: Allows interaction with data using integrated tools for data entry, computation, query, editing, validation, display, and retrieval.
According to IDC, SAS is the largest market-share holder in "advanced analytics" with 35.4 percent of the market as of 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.clickz.com/clickz/column/2353618/just-how-big-is-the-big-data-market |title=Just How Big Is the Big Data Market? |publisher=ClickZ |access-date=7 July 2014|date=2014-07-07 }}</ref> It is the fifth largest market-share holder for [[business intelligence|business intelligence (BI)]] software with a 6.9% share<ref>
{{cite web
| title=Worldwide Business Analytics Software 2013–2017 Forecast and 2012 Vendor Shares
| url=http://idcdocserv.com/241689e_sas
| first=Dan
| last=Vesset |author2=David Schubmehl |author3=Brian McDonough |author4=Mary Wardley
| publisher=IDC
| date=June 2013
| access-date=October 2, 2013}}</ref> and the largest independent vendor. It competes in the BI market against [[SAP BusinessObjects]], [[IBM Cognos]], [[SPSS Modeler]], [[Oracle Hyperion]], and [[Power BI|Microsoft Power BI]].<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.bi-verdict.com/fileadmin/FreeAnalyses/consolidations.htm
| title=Consolidations in the BI industry
| date=March 7, 2008
| last=Pendse
| first=Nigel
| work=The OLAP Report
| access-date=October 24, 2012
| archive-date=July 10, 2013
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130710120947/http://www.bi-verdict.com/fileadmin/FreeAnalyses/consolidations.htm
| url-status=dead
}}</ref> SAS has been named in the Gartner Leader's Quadrant for Data Integration Tools and for Business Intelligence and Analytical Platforms.<ref>
{{cite web
| title=Magic Quadrant for Business Intelligence and Analytics Platforms
| date=February 5, 2013
| publisher=Gartner
| url=http://www.gartner.com/technology/reprints.do?id=1-1DZLPEP&ct=130207&st=sb
| access-date=October 1, 2013
| first=Kurt
| last=Schlegel |author2=Rita Sallam |author3=Daniel Yuen |author4=Joao Tapadinhas}}</ref>
A study published in 2011 in ''[[BMC Health Services Research]]'' found that SAS was used in 42.6 percent of data analyses in health service research, based on a sample of 1,139 articles drawn from three journals.<ref>{{Cite journal | last1 = Dembe | first1 = A. E. | last2 = Partridge | first2 = J. S. | last3 = Geist | first3 = L. C. | title = Statistical software applications used in health services research: Analysis of published studies in the U.S | doi = 10.1186/1472-6963-11-252 | journal = BMC Health Services Research | volume = 11 | pages = 252 | year = 2011 | pmid = 21977990| pmc =3205033 | doi-access = free }}</ref>
 
== Uses and applications ==
;SAS/GIS:An interactive desktop [[Geographic Information System]] for mapping applications.
 
=== Education ===
;SAS/GRAPH:Although base SAS includes primitive graphing capabilities, SAS/GRAPH is needed for [[charting application|charting]] on graphical media.
SAS' analytical software is used in education to measure and visualize student outcomes and growth trends.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Woodie |first=Alex |date=2022-09-26 |title=How Data Analytics Can Combat Learning Loss Due to COVID-19 |url=https://www.datanami.com/2022/09/26/how-data-analytics-can-combat-learning-loss-due-to-covid-19/ |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=Datanami}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Cooper |first=Harris |last2=Nye |first2=Barbara |last3=Charlton |first3=Kelly |last4=Lindsay |first4=James |last5=Greathouse |first5=Scott |date=1996 |title=The Effects of Summer Vacation on Achievement Test Scores: A Narrative and Meta-Analytic Review |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.3102/00346543066003227 |journal=Review of Educational Research |language=en |volume=66 |issue=3 |pages=227–268 |doi=10.3102/00346543066003227 |issn=0034-6543|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Reynolds using AI-powered predictive analytics to grow enrollment {{!}} Reynolds Community College |url=https://www.reynolds.edu/news//2023/06/sas-ai-predictive-analytics-at-reynolds.html |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=www.reynolds.edu |language=en}}</ref> Several states, including Virginia, North Carolina, Mississippi, Missouri, and North Dakota use its software to measure and analyze [[Summer learning loss|learning loss]] and learning recovery in students.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-18 |title=Recovery Analysis Report Shows NC Students Made Gains on Pandemic Losses in 2021-22 {{!}} NC DPI |url=https://www.dpi.nc.gov/blog/2023/04/18/recovery-analysis-report-shows-nc-students-made-gains-pandemic-losses-2021-22 |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=www.dpi.nc.gov |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-05 |title=Time to rise: State analysis shows how far performance fell during pandemic |url=https://kclinc.org/news/2022/8/4/time-to-rise-up-state-analysis-shows-how-far-performance-fell-during-pandemic |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=Local Investment Commission |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>[https://www.ndlegis.gov/files/committees/67-2021/23_5169_02000presentation_220report.pdf An Analysis of Learning Decline Resulting from the COVID-19 Pandemic]</ref>
 
=== Environmental science ===
;[[Interactive Matrix Language|SAS/IML]]: [[Matrix (mathematics)|Matrix]]-handling SAS script extensions.
SAS and the [[International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis]] launched an app that [[Crowdsource|crowdsources]] image data related to deforestation to train AI algorithms that can identify human impact on the environment.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SAS and IIASA call for crowd-driven artificial intelligence to help track deforestation |url=https://iiasa.ac.at/news/apr-2020/sas-and-iiasa-call-for-crowd-driven-artificial-intelligence-to-help-track |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=IIASA - International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis |language=en}}</ref> The [[University of Florida]]'s Center for Coastal Solutions partners with SAS to develop research, training programs and analytical tools related to environmental issues affecting coastal communities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UF Partners with SAS to Expand Artificial Intelligence Efforts in Coastal Communities – Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure & Environment |url=https://www.essie.ufl.edu/uf-partners-with-sas-to-expand-artificial-intelligence-efforts-in-coastal-communities/ |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=www.essie.ufl.edu}}</ref>
 
The UNC Center for Galapagos Studies partnered with SAS in 2023 to create a model that can track the health and migratory patterns of species such as [[sea turtles]] and [[hammerhead sharks]], as well as the health of the [[phytoplankton]] population.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gabryel |first=Carleigh |date=2023-05-09 |title=SAS seeks crowd-driven AI to protect endangered sea turtles in Galapagos |url=https://research.unc.edu/2023/05/09/sas-seeks-crowd-driven-ai-to-protect-endangered-sea-turtles-in-galapagos/ |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=UNC Research |language=en-US}}</ref>
;SAS/INSIGHT: Dynamic tool for data mining - allows examination of univariate distributions, visualization of multivariate data, and model fitting using regression, analysis of variance, and the generalized linear model.
 
=== Finance and insurance ===
;SAS/Integration Technologies: Allows the SAS System to use standard protocols, like [[LDAP]] for directory access, [[CORBA]] and [[Microsoft]]'s [[Component object model|COM]]/[[Distributed Component Object Model|DCOM]] for inter-application communication, as well as message-oriented middleware like [[Microsoft Message Queuing]] and [[IBM WebSphere MQ]]. Also includes the SAS' proprietary [[client–server]] protocols used by all SAS [[Client (computing)|clients]].
SAS's fraud detection and prevention software is used by the tax agencies of various countries, such as the United States,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-12-09 |title=SAS arms IRS with new fraud detection tools |url=https://washingtontechnology.com/2011/12/sas-arms-irs-with-new-fraud-detection-tools/351114/ |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=Washington Technology |language=en}}</ref> and [[Malta]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Malta commits €3m to implement AI-powered SAS for tax evasion detection |url=https://aibc.world/news/malta-commits-e3m-to-implement-ai-powered-sas-for-tax-evasion-detection/ |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=AIBC |language=en-US}}</ref>
 
=== Healthcare and life sciences ===
;SAS/IntrNet:Extends SAS’ data retrieval and analysis functionality to the Web with a suite of CGI and Java tools
 
SAS has been a partner of the [[Cleveland Clinic]] since 1982.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cleveland Clinic's COVID-19 strategy driven by data modeling {{!}} TechTarget |url=https://www.techtarget.com/searchbusinessanalytics/feature/Cleveland-Clinics-COVID-19-strategy-driven-by-data-modeling |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=Business Analytics |language=en}}</ref> During the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the clinic used predictive models developed by SAS to forecast factors such as patient volume, availability of medical equipment and bed capacity in various scenarios. SAS joined UNC Chapel Hill's Rapidly Emerging Antiviral Drug Development Initiative (READDI) in 2021.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=bwbieltz |date=2021-09-14 |title=SAS and Carolina partner to accelerate antiviral drug development {{!}} UNC-Chapel Hill |url=https://www.unc.edu/posts/2021/09/14/sas-and-carolina-partner-to-accelerate-antiviral-drug-development/ |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |language=en-US}}</ref>
;SAS/LAB:Superseded by SAS Enterprise Guide.
 
==See also==
;SAS/OR:Operations Research
* [[Comparison of numerical-analysis software]]
* [[Comparison of OLAP servers]]
* [[JMP (statistical software)]], a subsidiary of [[SAS Institute Inc.]]
* [[SAS language]]
* [[R (programming language)]]
 
==References==
;SAS/PH-Clinical:Defunct product
{{Reflist}}
 
==Further reading==
;SAS/QC:[[Quality Control]] provides quality improvement tools.
* {{Cite journal
 
| last1=Greenberg
;SAS/SHARE: A data server that allows multiple users to gain simultaneous access to SAS files
| first1=Bernard G.
 
| last2=Cox
;SAS/SHARE*NET:Discontinued and now part of SAS/SHARE. It allowed a SAS/SHARE data server to be accessed from non-sas clients, like JDBC or ODBC compliant applications.
| first2=Gertrude M.
 
| author-link2=Gertrude Mary Cox
;SAS/SPECTRAVIEW: Allows visual exploration of large amounts of data. Once the system has plotted the data in a 3D space, users can then visualise it by creating envelope surfaces, cutting planes, etc, which can be animated depending on a fourth parameter (time for example).
| last3=Mason
 
| first3=David D.
;SAS/STAT: Statistical Analysis with a number of procedures, providing statistical information such as analysis of variance, regression, multivariate analysis, and categorical data analysis. Note for example the GLIMMIX procedure.<ref>
| last4=Grizzle
{{cite web
| first4=James E.
| url = http://nesug.org/proceedings/nesug05/an/an4.pdf
| last5=Johnson
| title = Introducing the GLIMMIX Procedure for Generalized Linear Mixed Models
| first5=Norman L.
| first = Oliver
| last6=Jones
| last = Schabenberger
| first6=Lyle V.
| authorlink =
| last7=Monroe
| coauthors =
| first7=John
| year = 2005
| last8=Simmons
| work = NESUG 18
| first8=Gordon D. Jr.
| publisher =
| editor=Nourse, E. Shepley
| ___location =
| journal=International Statistical Review
| page = 1
| title=Statistical Training and Research: The University of North Carolina System
| pages = 1–20
|volume=46
| format = PDF
| pages=171–207
| accessdate = 2010-04-18
| year=1978
| quote = This paper describes a new SAS/STATÒ procedure for fitting models to non-normal or normal data with correlations or nonconstant variability. The GLIMMIX procedure is an add-on for the SAS/STAT product in SASÒ 9.1 on the Windows platform.
| jstor=1402812
| issue=2
| doi=10.2307/1402812
}}
</ref>
 
* [[Wikiversity:Data Analysis using the SAS Language]]
;SAS/TOOLKIT
 
==External links==
;SAS/Warehouse Administrator: superseded in SAS 9 by SAS ETL Server.
* {{Official|https://www.sas.com/en_us/home.html}}
 
* [https://welcome.oda.sas.com/login SAS OnDemand for Academics] No-cost access for learners (free SAS Profile required)
;SAS Web Report Studio: Part of the SAS Enterprise Business Intelligence Server, provides access to query and reporting capabilities on the Web. Aimed at non-technical users.
* [https://go.documentation.sas.com/doc/en/pgmsascdc/v_023/pgmsasgl/glossary.htm?homeOnFail A Glossary of SAS terminology]
 
* [https://developer.sas.com/ SAS for Developers]
;SAS Financial Management: Budgeting, planning, financial reporting and consolidation.
* [https://communities.sas.com/ SAS community forums]
 
;SAS Activity Based Management: Cost and revenue modeling.
 
;SAS Strategy Management (formerly Strategic Performance Management): Collaborative scorecards.
 
;SAS Scalable Performance Data Server (SPDS): Distributed data system offering increased performance; Data processing server.
 
== Terminology ==
Where many other languages refer to [[Table (database)|tables]], [[Row (database)|rows]], and [[Column (database)|columns/fields]], SAS uses the terms ''data sets'', ''observations'', and ''variables''. There are only two kinds of variables in SAS: numeric and character (string). By default all numeric variables are stored as (8 byte) real. It is possible to reduce precision in external storage only. Date and datetime variables are numeric variables that inherit the C tradition and are stored as either the number of days (for date variables) or seconds (for datetime variables).
 
== Features==
{{Expand list|date=August 2008}}
* Read and write different file formats.
* Process data in different formats.
* SAS programming language, a [[4GL|4th generation programming language]]. SAS DATA steps are written in a 3rd-generation procedural language very similar to PL/I; SAS PROCS, especially PROC SQL, are non-procedural and therefore better fit the definition of a 4GL.
* SAS AF/SCL is a [[5GL|fifth generation programming language]] {{Citation needed|date=August 2008}} that is similar in syntax to Java.
* WHERE filtering available in DATA steps and PROCs; based on SQL WHERE clauses, incl. operators like LIKE and BETWEEN/AND.
* Built-in statistical and random number functions.
* Functions for manipulating character and numeric variables. Version 9 includes [[Perl]] [[Regular Expression]] processing.
* System of formats and informats. These control representation and categorization of data and may be used within DATA step programs in a wide variety of ways. Users can create custom formats, either by direct specification or via an input dataset.
* Comprehensive date- and time-handling functions; a variety of formats to represent date and time information without transformation of underlying values.
* Interaction with database products through a subset of [[SQL]] (and ability to use SQL internally to manipulate SAS data sets). Almost all SAS functions and operators available in PROC SQL.
* SAS/ACCESS modules allow communication with databases (including databases accessible via ODBC); in most cases, database tables can be viewed as though they were native SAS data sets. As a result, applications may combine data from many platforms without the end-user needing to know details of or distinctions between data sources.
* Direct output of reports to [[Comma-separated values|CSV]], [[HTML]], [[Printer Control Language|PCL]], [[Portable Document Format|PDF]], [[PostScript]], [[Rich Text Format|RTF]], [[XML]], and more using Output Delivery System. Templates, custom tagsets, styles incl. [[Cascading Style Sheets|CSS]] and other [[markup language|markup]] tools available and fully programmable.
* Interaction with the [[operating system]] (for example, [[Pipeline (computing)|pipelining]] on Unix and Windows and [[Dynamic Data Exchange|DDE]] on Windows).
* Fast development time, particularly from the many built-in procedures, functions, in/formats, the macro facility, etc.
* An [[integrated development environment]].
* Dynamic data-driven code generation using the SAS Macro language.
* Can process files containing millions of rows and thousands of columns of data.
* University research centers often offer SAS code for advanced statistical techniques, especially in fields such as Political Science, Economics and Business Administration.
* Large user community supported by SAS Institute. Users have a say in future development, e.g. via the annual SASWare Ballot.<ref>http://www.sascommunity.org/wiki/Main_Page</ref>
* SAS Text Miner was rated as the third most used text mining software (9%) by [[Rexer's Annual Data Miner Survey]] in 2010.<ref>http://www.rexeranalytics.com/Data-Miner-Survey-Results-2010.html</ref>
 
== Example SAS code ==
 
SAS uses data steps and procedures to analyze and manipulate data. By default, a data step iterates through each observation in a data set (like every row in a SQL table).
 
This data step creates a new data set BBB that includes those observations from data set AAA that had charges greater than 100.
 
data BBB;
set AAA;
where charge > 100;
run;
 
SAS makes available procedures that can summarize data. The <tt>proc freq</tt> procedure shows a frequency distribution of a given variable in a data set.
 
proc freq data=BBB;
table charge;
run;
 
SAS also allows direct subsetting of rows and/or columns of the data used as input to a procedure. The two previous examples could be replaced by the following:
 
proc freq data=AAA;
where charge > 100;
table charge;
run;
 
The same program could produce a data set containing the frequency distribution:
...
table charge / out=charge_freq;
...
 
The SAS Macro Language enables such features as conditional execution of SAS language components either across multiple data-steps and proc-steps, or within a single such step. One can think of it as a "code-generator", although it can also be used merely to establish static values that can be reused throughout the program, and altered as needed. For instance, the above example could be re-used in many pieces of code by rewriting it as a macro:
 
%macro freqtable (table, variable);
proc freq data = &table;
table &variable;
run;
%mend freqtable;
 
%freqtable (BBB, charge)
 
And further, other macro variables could be used for both conditional execution, as well as modification of the functionality of the step, as shown below. The first procedure is modified to include a new parameter limitObs, which, if used, subsets the data before performing the frequency analysis. A second macro provides overall program control functionality, including a flag indicating whether the frequency analysis should be performed at all.
 
%macro freqtable (table, variable, limitObs);
proc freq data = &table
%if .&limitObs ne . %then (obs=&limitObs);
; /* End of PROC FREQ statement */
table &variable;
run;
%mend freqtable;
 
%macro wrapper(myTable, myVariable, limitObs, doFreq);
/* Perform other proc-steps and data-steps */
%if &doFreq=Y %then %freqtable(&mytable, &myVariable, &limitObs);
%mend wrapper;
 
%wrapper(work.test, CLASS, 20, Y)
 
SAS also features SQL, usable to create, modify or query SAS datasets or external database tables accessed with a SAS libname engine. For example, duplicate records could be extracted from a table for analysis:
 
proc sql;
create table dup_recs
as select *
from your_dataset
group by id
having count(*) > 1
;
quit;
 
The <tt>proc print</tt> procedure allows the user to display information in ways not possible using only the SQL SELECT statement.
 
proc print data=BBB;
run;
 
SAS features SCL, which can be used to create object-oriented programs. SCL programs provide a robust library of features not available in Base SAS or the SAS Macro Language
 
class arrays;
public num supplyChain [*,*,*,*];
eventhandler runInterface / (sender='*', event='prepack for singles and bulk');
 
runInterface: method;
call send(_self_, 'step1');
call send(_self_, 'step2');
* ---;
call send(_self_, 'step99');
endmethod;
 
step1: method / (description='initialize array: suppliers, distro-centers, stores, prepack options');
supplyChain=makearray(34000, 15, 3207, 10);
endmethod;
 
step2: method / (description='load data');
* code cut;
endmethod;
 
step99: method / (description='print results');
submit continue;
proc print data=work.results;
run;
endsubmit;
endmethod;
endclass;
 
== Version history ==
{{Expand list|date=August 2008}}
 
=== SAS 71 ===
 
SAS 71 represents the first limited release of the system. The first manual for SAS was printed at this time, approximately 60 pages long.<ref>(Barr & Goodnight 1971)</ref> The DATA step was implemented. Regression and analysis of variance were the main uses of the program.
 
=== SAS 72 ===
 
This more robust release was the first to achieve wide distribution. It included a substantial user's guide, 260 pages in length.<ref>(Service 1972)</ref> The MERGE statement was introduced in this release, adding the ability to perform a database JOIN on two data sets.<ref>(Service 1972:47-49)</ref> This release also introduced the comprehensive handling of missing data.<ref>(Service 1972:28,65,67,etc.)</ref>
 
=== SAS 76 ===
 
SAS 76 was a complete system level rewrite, featuring an open architecture for adding and extending procedures, and for extending the compiler.<ref>(Barr & Goodnight, et al. 1979) This programmer's guide facilitated the extension of SAS through its open interface.</ref> The INPUT and INFILE statements were significantly enhanced to read virtually all data formats in use on the IBM mainframe.<ref>(Barr & Goodnight, et al. 1976:11-15)</ref> Report generation was added through the PUT and FILE statements.<ref>(Barr & Goodnight, et al. 1976:38-44)</ref> The capacity to analyze [[general linear model]]s was added.<ref>(Barr & Goodnight, et al. 1976:127-144)</ref>
 
=== 79.3 - 82.4 ===
 
1980 saw the addition of SAS/GRAPH, a graphing component; and SAS/ETS for econometric and time-series analysis. In 1981 SAS/FSP followed, providing full-screen interactive data entry, editing, browsing, retrieval, and letter writing.
 
In 1983 full-screen spreadsheet capabilities were introduced (PROC FSCALC).
 
For IBM mainframes, SAS 82 no longer required SAS databases to have direct access organization ( (DSORG=DAU), because SAS 82 removed ___location-dependent information from databases. This permitted SAS to work with datasets on tape and other media besides disk.
 
===Version 4 series===
 
In the early 1980s, SAS Institute released Version 4, the first version for non-IBM computers. It was written mostly in a subset of the [[PL/I]] language, to run on several [[minicomputer]] manufacturers' operating systems and hardware: [[Data General]]'s AOS/VS, [[Digital Equipment]]'s VAX/VMS, and [[Prime Computer]]'s PRIMOS. The version was colloquially called "Portable SAS" because most of the code was portable, i.e., the same code would run under different operating systems.
 
===Version 5 series===
=== Version 6 series ===
 
Version 6 represented a major milestone for SAS. While it appeared superficially similar to the user, major changes occurred "under the hood": the software was rewritten. From its [[FORTRAN]] origins, followed by [[PL/I]] and mainframe [[assembly language]]; in version 6 SAS was rewritten in [[C (programming language)|C]], to provide enhanced [[portability]] between operating systems, as well as access to an increasing pool of C programmers compared to the shrinking pool of PL/I programmers.
 
This was the first version to run on [[UNIX]], MS-DOS and Windows platforms. The DOS versions were incomplete implementations of the Version 6 spec: some functions and formats were unavailable, as were [[SQL]] and related items such as indexing and WHERE subsetting. DOS memory limitations restricted the size of some user-defined items.
 
The mainframe version of SAS 6 changed the physical format of SAS databases from "direct files" (DSORG=DA) to standard blocked physical sequential files (DSORG=PS,RECFM=FS) with a customized EXCP macro instead of BSAM, QSAM or previously BDAM which was used through version 5 until the complete rewrite of version 6. The practical benefit of this change is that a SAS 6 database can be copied from any media with any copying tool including IEBGENER - which uses BSAM.
 
In 1984 a project management component was added (SAS/PROJECT).
 
In 1985 SAS/AF software, econometrics and time series analysis (SAS/ETS) component, and interactive matrix programming [[Interactive Matrix Language|(SAS/IML)]] software was introduced. MS-DOS SAS (version 6.02) was introduced, along with a link to mainframe SAS.
 
In 1986 Statistical quality improvement component is added (SAS/QC software); SAS/IML and SAS/STAT software is released for personal computers.
 
1987 saw concurrent update access provided for SAS data sets with SAS/SHARE software. Database interfaces are introduced for [[IBM DB2|DB2]] and SQL-DS.
 
In 1988 SAS introduced the concept of MultiVendor Architecture (MVA); SAS/ACCESS software is released. Support for UNIX-based hardware announced. SAS/ASSIST software for building user-friendly front-end menus is introduced. New SAS/CPE software establishes SAS as innovator in computer performance evaluation. Version 6.03 for MS-DOS is released.
 
6.06 for [[MVS]], [[Conversational Monitor System|CMS]], and [[OpenVMS]] is announced in 1990. The same year, the last MS-DOS version (6.04) is released.
 
Data visualization capabilities added in 1991 with SAS/INSIGHT software.
 
In 1992 SAS/CALC, SAS/TOOLKIT, SAS/PH-Clinical, and SAS/LAB software is released.
 
In 1993 software for building customized executive information systems (EIS) is introduced. Release 6.08 for MVS, CMS, VMS, VSE, [[OS/2]], and Windows is announced.
 
1994 saw the addition of [[Open Database Connectivity|ODBC]] support, plus SAS/SPECTRAVIEW and SAS/SHARE*NET components.
 
6.09 saw the addition of a data step debugger.
 
6.09E for MVS.
 
6.10 in 1995 was a Microsoft Windows release and the first release for the Apple Macintosh. Version 6 was the first, and last series to run on the Macintosh. [[JMP (statistical software)|JMP]], also produced by the SAS Institute, is the software package the company produces for the Macintosh.
 
Also in 1995, 6.11 (codenamed Orlando) was released for Windows 95, Windows NT, and UNIX.
 
6.12 (Some of the following milestones in this sub-section may belong under version 7 or 8.)
 
In 1996 SAS announces Web enablement of SAS software and introduced the scalable performance data server.
 
In 1997 SAS/Warehouse Administrator and SAS/IntrNet software goes into production.
 
1998 sees SAS introduce a customer relationship management (CRM) solution, and an ERP access interface — SAS/ACCESS interface for SAP R/3. SAS is also the first to release OLE-DB for OLAP and releases HOLAP solution. Balanced scorecard, SAS/Enterprise Reporter, and HR Vision are released. First release of SAS Enterprise Miner.
 
1999 sees the releases of HR Vision software, the first end-to-end decision-support system for human resources reporting and analysis; and Risk Dimensions software, an end-to-end risk-management solution. MS-DOS versions are abandoned because of Y2K issues and lack of continued demand.
 
In 2000 SAS shipped Enterprise Guide and ported its software to [[Linux]].
 
=== Version 7 series ===
 
The Output Delivery System debuted in version 7; as did long variable names (from 8 to 32 characters); storage of long character strings in variables (from 200 to 32,767); and a much improved built-in text editor, the Enhanced Editor.
 
Version 7 saw the synchronisation of features between the various platforms for a particular version number (which previously hadn't been the case).
 
Version 7 foreshadowed version 8. It was believed in the SAS users community, although never officially confirmed, that in releasing version 7 SAS Institute released a snapshot from their development on version 8 to meet a deadline promise. To some, SAS Institute recommending that sites wait until version 8 before deploying the new software was a confirmation of this.
 
=== Version 8 series ===
 
Released about 1999; 8.0, 8.1, 8.2 were Unix, Linux, Microsoft Windows, CMS ([[z/VM]]) and [[z/OS]] releases. Key features: long variable names, Output Delivery System (ODS).
 
SAS 8.1 was released in 2000.
 
SAS 8.2 was released in 2001.
 
=== Version 9 series ===
 
SAS 9.2 is the latest release (March 2008) and was demonstrated at SAS Global Forum (previously called SUGI) 2008.<ref>http://support.sas.com/events/sasglobalforum/2008/index.html</ref> A list of features added to this release of SAS can be seen at the "What's New in SAS" web page.<ref>http://support.sas.com/documentation/whatsnew/index.html</ref>
<br />SAS 9.2 will be released incrementally in three phases:<ref>http://www.sas.com/offices/asiapacific/sp/usergroups/snug/archive/2008/presentations/LaiPhongTranApril08.pdf</ref><br />
1) MVA-based products eg. SAS/BASE, SAS/STAT, SAS/Graph. Nothing that relies on metadata. Limited availability from March 2008 because most users rely on the Metadata Server (see Phase 2) or products released in Phased 3.<br />
2) Enterprise Intelligence Platform. Metadata Server for Business Intelligence (BI) and Data Integration. Availability from March 2009.<br />
3) Client software for metadata driven analytics and business solutions. Enterprise Miner, Text Miner, Model manager. Solutions include Financial, Retail, Health & Life Science. Availability unknown, probably 2nd Quarter 2009.
 
Version 9 makes additions to base SAS. The new hash object now allows functionality similar to the MERGE statement without sorting data or building formats. The function library was enlarged, and many functions have new parameters. Perl Regular Expressions are now supported, as opposed to the old "Regular Expression" facility, which was incompatible with most other implementations of Regular Expressions. Long format names are now supported.
 
== Criticism ==
 
The Base SAS component had been criticized for its poor graphics when compared with other statistical software packages. With the release of the Output Delivery System (ODS) for Statistical Graphics extension in SAS 7, and with the use of the SAS Graph component the graphics have improved significantly.<ref>{{citation | last = Rodriguez | first = Robert N. | contribution = An Introduction to ODS for Statistical Graphics in SAS 9.1 | title = SUGI 29 Proceedings | contribution-url = http://www2.sas.com/proceedings/sugi29/204-29.pdf | publisher = SAS Institute, Inc. | place = Montréal, Canada | year = 2004 | format = [[PDF]] | accessdate = 2008-02-28}}</ref> The development tools provided — which include the Enhanced text editor, log, DATA step debugger, SCL debugger — are also outdated compared to what other development environments provide. Debugging tools are especially lacking. Finding bugs in modern SAS programs that use many macros can be complex; SAS will often not note the correct line number of execution when reporting an error, as diagnostic messages will refer to the expanded macro code.
 
== Regulatory compliance ==
{{Empty section|date=April 2010}}
 
== Competitors==
* [[R (programming language)|R]]
* [[SPSS]]
* [[STATA]]
* [[STATISTICA]]
* [[World Programming System|WPS]]
* [[XLSTAT]]
 
== See also ==
* [[Electronic medical record]]
* [[Comparison of OLAP Servers]]
 
== Notes ==
{{Reflist|2}}
 
== References ==
{{refbegin}}
* [http://www.sas.com/presscenter/bgndr_history.html SAS Company History]
* Barr, Anthony J., Goodnight, James H. ''SAS, Statistical Analysis System'', Student Supply Store, North Carolina State University, 1971. [http://www.worldcatlibraries.org/oclc/5728643 OCLC 5728643]
* Barr, Anthony J., Goodnight, James H., Sall, John P., Helwig, Jane T. ''A User's Guide to SAS 76'', SAS Institute, Inc., 1976. ISBN 0-917382-01-3
* Barr, Anthony J., Goodnight, James H., Sall, John P., Helwig, Jane T. ''SAS Programmer's Guide, 1979 Edition'', SAS Institute, Inc., 1979. [http://www.worldcatlibraries.org/oclc/4984363 OCLC 4984363]
* Cody, Ron and Ray Pass. SAS Programming by Example. 1995. SAS Institute.
* Delwiche, Lora D. and Susan J. Slaughter. [http://support.sas.com/publishing/authors/slaughter.html The Little SAS Book]. 2008. SAS Institute.
* Slaughter, Susan J. and Lora D. Delwiche. [http://support.sas.com/publishing/authors/slaughter.html The Little SAS Book for Enterprise Guide 4.2]. 2010. SAS Institute.
* McDaniel, Stephen and Hemedinger, Chris. [http://support.sas.com/sasfordummies SAS for Dummies.] 2007. Wiley.
* {{Citation | surname1=Greenberg | given1=Bernard G. | surname2=Cox | given2=Gertrude M. | authorlink2=Gertrude Mary Cox | surname3=Mason | given3=David D. | surname4=Grizzle | given4=James E. | surname5=Johnson | given5=Norman L. | surname6=Jones | given6=Lyle V. | surname7=Monroe | given7=John | surname8=Simmons | given8=Gordon D., Jr. | editor=Nourse, E. Shepley | journal=International Statistical Review | title=Statistical Training and Research: The University of North Carolina System |volume=46 | pages=171–207 | year=1978 | url=http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0306-7734(197808)46%3A2%3C171%3ASTARTU%3E2.0.CO%3B2-S }}
* Service, Jolayne ''A User's Guide to the Statistical Analysis System.'', Student Supply Stores, North Carolina State University, 1972. [http://www.worldcatlibraries.org/oclc/1325510 OCLC 1325510]
{{refend}}
 
== External links ==
* [http://www.sas.com SAS homepage]
* [http://support.sas.com SAS support webpage]
* [[Wikiversity:Data Analysis using the SAS Language]]
*[http://www.amadeus.co.uk/sas-technical-services/tips-and-techniques/ SAS tips and techniques]
 
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