Western Users of SAS Software is excited to announce WUSS 2022 Virtual Encores, a curated selection of the finest content from the wildly successful WUSS 2022 conference held last fall in San Francisco. If you couldn’t attend last fall, or even if you did and you just can’t wait until October 2023 to get more WUSS, WUSS 2022 Virtual Encores has something for everyone!
WUSS 2022 Virtual Encores features several of our most popular half-day training classes taught by seasoned industry experts. These classes are a tremendous value at just $150 per class. All classes are held from 10am to 2pm PT (1pm to 5pm ET).
Registration is NOW OPEN for all classes! Please click on each class title for a detailed description of the course and information about the instructors.
*HOW = Hands-on Workshop. These courses will feature instructor-led exercises that can be completed in class.
Course Descriptions
From %MACRO to %MEND: Getting Started with SAS Macro Language Basics – Part 1
Josh Horstman
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM Pacific Time
This two-part seminar is designed for the SAS programmer who is new to the Macro Language. We will start with the basics and cover the fundamentals necessary to start applying SAS macros in your programs. Part 1 covers how the Macro Language works, what the Macro Symbol Table is and how to store values in it, how the SAS System uses Macro Variables, calling and executing macros, using macro parameters, and other key Macro Language concepts. It is intended to be paired with Part 2 for a complete foundation in the macro language.
From %MACRO to %MEND: Getting Started with SAS Macro Language Basics – Part 2
Josh Horstman
Thursday, February 23, 2023
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM Pacific Time
This two-part seminar is designed for the SAS programmer who is new to the Macro Language. We will start with the basics and cover the fundamentals necessary to start applying SAS macros in your programs. Building on the foundational concepts of the first part, Part 2 covers how to control your SAS programs with macros, the use of key SAS Macro Language statements, interfacing with data values in the macro language, macro functions, macro language arithmetic, and other fundamental macro language concepts. Using examples, this course demonstrate the power and flexibility of this part of the SAS System and will enable you to apply its functionalities to your own programs right away.
CDISC ADaM – Implementation by Example (HOW)
Richann Watson
Thursday, March 2, 2023
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM Pacific Time
This course will provide a high-level overview of some of basic ADaM concepts. It is assumed that the attendee will have a fundamental knowledge of the different ADaM structures and principles. The primary focus of the course is to illustrate the implementation of some of the concepts found in both the ADaM Implementation Guide (ADaM IG) and the ADaM Structure for Occurrence Data (OCCDS) documents. Items covered include setting up subject level analysis data set (ADSL) for common trial designs and walking through the process of creating a basic data structure (BDS) starting from a simple BDS and building on it to structure a data set that will support one or more analyses. Additionally, the course will demonstrate how to implement some variables that are only found in OCCDS, such as the standardized MedDRA query (SMQ) and customized query (CQ) variables. This course is billed as a “lecture” style course; however, exercises will be provided to attendees in Adobe PDF format, so a laptop with Adobe Reader installed will be highly beneficial for attendees.
Everything is Better with Friends: Using SAS in Python Applications with SASPy and Open-Source Tooling – Getting Started (HOW*)
Isaiah Lankham, Matthew Slaughter
Friday, March 3, 2023
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM Pacific Time
Interested in learning Python? How about learning to make Python and SAS work together? In this hands-on class, we’ll practice writing Python scripts in Google Colab (an online implementation of JupyterLab). These Python scripts will link to SAS OnDemand for Academics using the Python package SASPy developed by SAS Institute. We’ll also practice using the popular Python package pandas, whose DataFrame objects are the Python equivalent of SAS datasets. Along the way, we’ll work through common data-analysis tasks using both regular SAS code and Python together with the SASPy package, highlighting important tradeoffs for each and emphasizing the value of being a polyglot programmer fluent in multiple languages. This will include a beginner-friendly overview of Python syntax and data structures. This class is aimed at SAS programmers of all skill levels, including those with no prior experience using Python or JupyterLab. However, some examples will assume familiarity with the Output Delivery System, PROC SQL, and the SAS Macro Facility. Accounts for Google and SAS OnDemand for Academics will be needed to interact with code examples. All class materials, including complete setup instructions, will be made available through https://github.com/saspy-bffs/wuss-2022-virtual-encores. This is the first class in a two-part series. Each part may be taken individually or as a package.
CDISC ADaM – Principles, Rules and Complex Examples (HOW)
Richann Watson
Thursday, March 9, 2023
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM Pacific Time
This course will provide a high-level overview of some of the basic ADaM concepts; however, it is assumed that the attendee will be familiar with the different ADaM structures and principles. The course will delve into what is meant by traceability and analysis ready as well as look at some rules and best practices. However, the primary focus is to illustrate the implementation of some of the more difficult or less common concepts found in both the ADaM Implementation Guide (ADaMIG) and the ADaM Structure for Occurrence Data (OCCDS) documents. The course includes an illustration of the use of criterion variables (CRITy and MCRITy) and record-level and parameter-level population flags (-RFL and -PFL), as well as a demonstration of how to set up time-to-event and questionnaire/rating/scales analysis data sets. In addition, it will go into depth about AEs of special interest and the use of Standard MedDRA Queries (SMQ) and provide an illustration of how the OCCDS can be used to handle the non-typical analysis for events data. This course is billed as a “lecture” style course; however, exercises will be provided to attendees in Adobe PDF format, so a laptop with Adobe Reader installed will be highly beneficial for attendees.
Everything is Better with Friends: Using SAS in Python Applications with SASPy and Open-Source Tooling – Beyond the Basics (HOW*)
Isaiah Lankham, Matthew Slaughter
Friday, March 10, 2023
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM Pacific Time
Are you familiar with Python syntax? Want to go beyond the basics, and use SAS and Python together like a pro? As in the “Getting Started” version of this course, we’ll practice writing Python scripts in Google Colab (an online implementation of JupyterLab). These Python scripts will link to SAS OnDemand for Academics using the Python package SASPy developed by SAS Institute. We’ll also practice using the popular Python package pandas, whose DataFrame objects are the Python equivalent of SAS datasets. Along the way, we’ll work through common data-analysis tasks using both regular SAS code and Python together with the SASPy package, highlighting important tradeoffs for each and emphasizing the value of being a polyglot programmer fluent in multiple languages. Specific examples include advanced data-manipulation techniques, using SASPy as an interface for SAS/STAT, rectangularizing complex JSON-formatted data returned by web APIs, and creating simple Python web applications incorporating SAS analytics. This class is aimed at intermediate to advanced SAS programmers, but assumes only basic familiarity with Python syntax and pandas DataFrames. However, no knowledge of JupyterLab is assumed. Accounts for Google and SAS OnDemand for Academics will be needed to interact with code examples. All class materials, including complete setup instructions, will be made available through https://github.com/saspy-bffs/wuss-2022-virtual-encores. This is the second class in a two-part series. Each part may be taken individually or as a package.
Data Analytics: Concepts, Challenges, and Solutions Using SAS®
Kirk Lafler
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM Pacific Time
Data is ubiquitous. With 2.5 quintillion bytes (1 with 18 zeros) of new data being created each day, data literacy – the ability to analyze and interpret data – is an increasingly valuable skill, particularly in the age of big data. Organizations across industries are embracing data analytics resulting in a growing demand for qualified and experienced talent with essential data and analysis skills. Data analytics is the process and practice of analyzing data to identify trends, extract insights, answer questions, and help understand things that were learned that could negate or call into question the assumptions going into the analysis. This course introduces concepts, challenges, and solutions associated with the data ecosystem and data analytics lifecycle’s steps: data collection / extraction, cleaning / transformation, analysis, visualization, and interpretation. Attendees explore the different types of data: quantitative versus qualitative; the data measurement scale: nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio; data file types; data collection / extraction techniques; data cleaning / transformation techniques; Descriptive, Diagnostic, Predictive, and Prescriptive analytics techniques; visualization techniques; and interpretation techniques using SAS® software.
Download a detailed course description (PDF, 189K).
Custom Excel Reports and Spreadsheets Using PROC REPORT and the ODS Excel Destination
Kirk Lafler
Wednesday, March 29, 2023
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM Pacific Time
SAS® users everywhere turn to the REPORT procedure to customize and satisfy their reporting needs as they create and deliver quality “custom” detail and summary reports, and specialized output for management, end users, and customers. This popular course explores an assortment of techniques to create custom spreadsheets, reports and specialized output using PROC REPORT and the powerful ODS Excel destination. Attendees learn how to create detail and summary spreadsheets, reports and output using PROC REPORT; acquire useful Output Delivery System (ODS) skills; combine PROC REPORT and the powerful ODS Excel destination to produce quick and formatted detail and summary Excel workbook results; customize output and results with SAS-supplied styles; compute subtotals and totals at the end of a report using a COMPUTE Block; calculate percentages; produce statistics for analysis variables; apply conditional logic to control summary output rows; add background images; build custom autofilter drill-down (interactive) reports and Excel workbooks; and add traffic lighting scenarios to Excel workbooks.
SAS + R Part 1: Connecting SAS and R in Your Data Science Workflow
Hunter Glanz
Tuesday, April 11, 2023
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM Pacific Time
As robust statistical software packages, SAS and R boast a great number of tools for addressing all of your data-related needs. While there exists large overlap in what they provide, today’s statistical and data science problems increasingly involve multiple software packages. After all, if you have access to all of these tools then why not explore how they can improve your workflow! In this class we will explore the complete workflow of cleaning a dataset, exploring it, visualizing it using a combination of SAS and R.
SAS + R Part 2: Using R Shiny to Make Your Data Wrangling and Visualization Interactive
Hunter Glanz
Tuesday, April 18, 2023
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM Pacific Time
While both SAS and R include a rich suite of tools for working with your data, there often exists a collection of tasks and activities that get repeated with every new dataset. Traditionally such repetition could be addressed by building macros or functions. R Shiny enhances this process by making your data work interactive! Not only can this save you some code and work, but it provides a way for consumers of your work to do all of your cool data science-y things without needing to know how to program. In this class we will build our very own basic shiny applications using R.
Advanced SAS Macro Language Techniques for Building Dynamic Programs
Josh Horstman
Thursday, April 20, 2023
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM Pacific Time
NEW CLASS – JUST ADDED!
This seminar shows you how to take advantage of SAS Macro Language capabilities that enable you to write dynamic programs and applications. By mastering the concepts and techniques presented in this class your programs will become free of hard-coded data dependencies, thus eliminating the need to re-write the code every time a data set name, variable name, or other data attribute changes. Topics will include how to build and process macro variable lists, using the macro language to control the data environment, using control files, working with datasets and libraries in the macro language, accessing the SAS data dictionaries, and other miscellaneous macro topics that will help you create dynamic code. Let “them” change the project’s specifications as often as “they” want … your code is ready!
