[Blindmath] SAS Question

Tue Jun 4 07:06:40 UTC 2013

Hi Justin,

I'm also not entirely clear on what your problem exactly entails, however,
if you're referring to the table view in SAS, where your data is presented
in a Excel like sheet - then no, it isn't accessible.

The best work-around for this is to run an SQL query, and print the data, or
a portion thereof like:

Proc sql obsout=10;
Select * from YourDataSet;
Quit;

Depending on the size of your set you may omit the obsout command, or adjust
its value.  Also be sure to set the output preference to html in
Tools>Preferences, and to display it using your preferred web browser.  It's
far easier navigating SAS output in an html window than trying to do it in
SAS.  The table view in SAS will also allow you to see data types and other
data properties; for this use:

Proc contents data=YourDataSet; run;

Once again, if SAS directs the proc contents output to your web browser,
this should be easy to navigate.

Further to Jonathan's response; all SAS code (in the editor window) is
completely accessible, and so are the log and output windows, and menus.  I
have found built-in solutions inaccessible, but all those tasks may be
accomplished by using the appropriate procedure.  All SAS programs are text
files saved with a .sas extension, and may even be run from a command line,
or in a batch context (if you want to circumvent the GUI entirely).

Although the log and output windows are accessible, the following code will
send its contents to text files of your choice:
Proc printto print="c:\....\YourOutputFile.txt"
log="c:\....\YourLogFile.txt"; run;

I have found JAWS repeating a single letter in the log window, rendering it
useless; however, this is due to a blinking cursor.  In the
Tools>Preferences menu, you should tick the box that says "Hide cursor in
non-input windows", that should fix this.

Finally, I place the following two lines at the top of all my SAS programs,
or execute them before running any additional code:
Dm log 'clear';
Dm output 'clear' log;

This commands clear the log and output windows - please do not try to clear
them from the menus - in earlier versions of SAS the menus did the trick,
but in recent versions, this caused JAWS to become non-responsive and SAS to
crash.  I have added a keyboard shortcut in SAS so that Alt+Ctrl+l produces
this text so that I needn't type it every time.

I just realised that this has become a lengthy mail, but I have worked with
SAS for the past nine years, of which four was in a corporate setting, where
I had no alternatives.  I hope it helps...

Best,
t

-----Original Message-----
From: Blindmath [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jonathan
Godfrey
Sent: 04 June 2013 12:15 AM
To: 'Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics'
Subject: Re: [Blindmath] SAS Question

Justin,

Further to Arielle's message. If your class does use the menus that are
commonly available to SAS users via an overlay, the SAS code that the menus
creates should be readable. I've seen the code generated this way and while
I'm not a SAS user, I could at least follow what was happening. I haven't
yet needed to see if the menus were useful as a JAWS user. Any feedback on
that from recent users would be appreciated by me and those people on the
list that do need to use SAS.

Obtaining SAS code to complete your tasks should be fairly easy using their
accessible online documentation.

Making use of offers like Arielle's makes great sense too though. While I
teach using R, my attitude towards students sharing code would be the same
if we used SAS. Sharing makes sense; it's not cheating as some see it, as
long as the assessment exercise forces you to gain understanding. I let my
classes share anything they like because they have different data and must
end up drawing the right conclusion for the data specific to them.

Jonathan

-----Original Message-----
From: Blindmath [mailto:blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Arielle
Silverman
Sent: Tuesday, 4 June 2013 4:13 a.m.
To: Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics
Subject: Re: [Blindmath] SAS Question

Hi Justin,
I don't think it's possible to read the data once it is imported into SAS,
but you can run analysis commands. If you tell me what your specific
assignment is, I should be able to tell you how to get it done in SAS. I
usually use Excel for looking at my data, and once it's in SAS all I do with
it is run analyses. You will need to know the syntax to type into SAS to run
your analyses since SAS doesn't use any menus. If this is for a class, you
should have been given syntax to type in but again, if you tell me the
specific assignment I should be able to help.

Arielle

On 6/3/13, Justin Salisbury <PRESIDENT at alumni.ecu.edu> wrote:
> Dear List,
>
> I am trying to use SAS with Jaws to do some basic work, and I am 
> having trouble reading an Excel file with SAS.  I'm sure that it can 
> be done; I think the problem is just that I don't know how to start 
> working wit the data.  I have made it read the file, and the file is 
> listed in my screen. I have tried tabbing around the screen, arrowing, 
> and all the other usual things.
>
> I am specifically needing to use SAS for an assignment, so please do 
> not offer me suggestions to do the work in other softwares.
>
> How can I actually start working with the data now that I have pulled 
> up the file?
>
> Thank you,
>
> Justin
>
>
> Justin M. Salisbury
> B.A. in Mathematics
> Class of 2012
> East Carolina University
> president at alumni.ecu.edu<mailto:president at alumni.ecu.edu>
>
> "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can
change
> the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."    -MARGARET MEAD
>
>
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