1)
Which data functions advances a date time or data/time values by a given
interval?
A..
INTNX
2)
How can call macros within data step?
A..
We
can call the macro with call-symputx
3)
In the flow of data step processing, what is the first action in a typical data
step?
A..
when
you submit a data step , SAS process the data step and then creates a new SAS
data set. (Creation of input buffer and PDV) compilation phase and execution
phase.
4)
How do you identify a macro variable?
A..
Ampersand
(&)
5)
What are SAS/Access and SAS/Connect?
A..
SAS/Access
only process through the database like oracles, SQL-server, Ms-Access etc.
SAS/Connect only use server connections.
6)
What is the one statement to set the criteria of data that can be coded in any
step?
A..
Options
statement, Label statements, Keep/Drop Statements.
7)
What is the purpose of using the N=PS option?
A..
the
N=Ps option creates a buffer in memory which is large enough to store PS lines
and enables a page to be formatted randomly prior to it being printed.
8)
What are the scrubbing procedures in SAS?
A..
Proc
sort with nodupkey option, because it will eliminate the duplicate values.
9)
What are the new features included in the new versions of SAS?
A..
the
main advantage of version 9 is faster execution of applications and centralized
access of date and support.
10) What difference did you find among
version 6, 8 and 9?
A. Architecture is fundamentally
different from any prior version of SAS. In the SAS 9 architecture, SAS relies
on a new component, the metadata server, to provide an information layer
between the programs and the data they access. Metadata, such as security permission
for SAs libraries and where the various SAs servers are running, are maintained
in a common repository.
11)
What are the advantages of using SAS clinical data management? Why should not
we use other software products in managing clinical data?
Fewer personnel are required. Systems that use complicated database software often the hiring of one or more DBA’s who make sure the database software is running, make changes to the structure of the database, etc. these individuals often require special training or background experience in the particular database application being used, typically oracle. Additionally, consultants are often required to set up the system studies since dedicated serves and specific expertise requirements often complicate the process. Users with even casual SAS experience can set up studies. Programmer can build the structure of the database and design screens. Organizations that re involved in data management almost always have at least one SAS programmer already on staff. He has understanding of how actually system works, which would allow them to extend the functionality of directly accessing SAS data from outside of the system. Speed of setup is dramatically reduced. By keeping studies on a local file server and making the database and screen design process extremely simple and intuitive, setup time is reduced from weeks to days. All phases of the data management process become homogeneous. From entry to analysis, data reside in SAS data sets, often the end goal of every data management group. Additionally, SAS users are involved in each step, instead of having specialist from different area hand off pieces of studies during the projects life cycle.
No data conversion is required. Since the data
reside in SAS data sets natively, no conversion programs need to be written. Data
review can happen during the data entry process, on the master databases. As
long as records are marked as being double-keyed, data review personnel can run
edit check programs and build queries on some patients while others are still
being entered. Tables and listing can be generated on live data. This
helps speed up the development of table and listing programs and allows
programmers to avoid having to make continual copies or extracts of the data
during testing.
12)
What has been your most common programming mistake?
A..
I
remember missing semicolon and not checking log after submitting program, not
using debugging tech and not using Fsview option vigorously are my common
programming errors I made when I started learning SAS and in my initial
projects.
13)
Have you ever had to follow SOPs or Programming guidelines?
A..
SOP
describes the process to assure that standard coding activities, which produce
tables, listing and graphs, functions and /or edit checks, are conducted in
accordance with industry standards are appropriately documented.
14)
Name several ways to achieve efficiency in your program. Explain trade – off?
A.
Efficiency and performance strategies can be classified into 5 different areas.
Data Storage Elapsed time Input /
Output Memory CPU
time and elapsed time base line measurements. Efficiency improving
techniques: Using keep and drop statements to retain necessary variables.
Use macros for reducing the code. Using if-then/else statements to process data
programming. Use sql procedure to reduce number of programming steps. Using of
length statements to reduce the variable size for reducing the data storage.
15) What other SAS products have you
used and consider yourself proficient in using?
A. Data _null_ statements, proc means,
proc report, proc tabulate, proc freq, and proc print, proc Univariate etc.
16) What is the significance of the ‘OF’
in x=sum (of a1-a4, a6,a9);
A. If don’t use the OF function it might
not be interpreted as we expect. For example the function above calculates the
sum of a1 minus a4 plus a6 and a9 and not the whole sum of a1 toa4 &a6 and
a9. It is true for mean option also.
16) What do the put and input function
do?
A.
Input function converts character data values to numeric values. Put function
converts numeric values to character values. Ex: for input: input (source,
informat)
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