techniques for spawning asynchronous SAS batch jobs, behind the scenes, to produce result sets.
The first technique launches the batch job, and then e-mails the result set to the user when the
batch job completes. The second technique provides the user with a status page in their browser
that is continuously updated as each batch job step completes, and then overlays the status page
with the final output when it becomes available. Both techniques are clearly described and include
easy-to-follow examples.
“Singling out specific chapters for comment is hard, because all of the chapters in this book have
significant tips, insights, and well-explained examples. It is obvious to me that there will not be
another book published about SAS/IntrNet software, because Don has covered everything there is
to say about the topic in this one great publication. But, then again, one would expect no less from
one of the original creators of SAS/IntrNet software!”
Michael A. Raithel
Westat
“The Paris Herald Tribune once published a satirical column by Art Buchwald describing a
mythical American tourist who visited Paris and ran a ‘four-minute Louvre.’ The tourist touched
all the must-see bases—the Venus de Milo, the Mona Lisa, and the Winged Victory of
Samothrace—making excellent time Buchwald wrote, ‘under perfect conditions, with a smooth
floor, excellent lighting, and no wind.’
“Superficial involvement with substance is something one can poke fun at, but it has no place in
serious matters. There is no way one could race through Don Henderson’s new book about how to
use the Application Dispatcher in SAS/IntrNet. This is material that demands close, patient, and
studious attention.
“This book reveals two characteristics of the author himself. First, he is a person who willingly
gives away his own know-how, sharing highly valuable insights with anyone who cares to listen.
Second, he is someone who is able to master advanced coding techniques easily and apply that
mastery to solving complex coding problems. Any programmer who works with SAS/IntrNet will
feel a sense of indebtedness to Don for making life easier.
“This book, which could have been subtitled Making the Most of SAS/IntrNet, makes it easy to
realize that the software has tremendous depth and is up to the job of dealing with practical coding
requirements. This shouldn’t astonish us. After all, SAS software in general has continued to
evolve and take on enhanced capabilities. Thus, to understand the Application Dispatcher, one
must make the same kind of effort that is involved in learning ODS or SAS/GRAPH, for example.
Don challenges the reader to do just that. There is no fluff here, only solid meat. Each paragraph,
each example, contains important information that a reader must digest slowly and carefully.
“This text is so educational that it really ought to become material for a new course offered by
SAS. Each chapter contains examples that could be converted easily into exercises. In any form,
Don’s masterful work will help SAS programmers to become better and stronger.”
Jim Sattler, President
Satmari Software Systems, Inc.
