ModSpace as a SAS DD Replacement

ModSpace is our web-based collaborative platform used by groups of analysts to store, share and discover models, data and scripts in a version controlled environment.

We were approached by a customer looking to replace SAS DD, to explore the possibility of using ModSpace for storing SAS datasets. They wanted to make use of the robust environment which ModSpace provides, whilst allowing users to work on data directly via a server installation of SAS.

To achieve this, we built a set of SAS macros to seamlessly allow users to interact with files stored within ModSpace.

The first step is to add the files to a ModSpace Entry. It contains a number of SAS datasets which I have placed within a simple folder structure:

Each ModSpace Entry has a unique identifier, let’s make a note of this for later – it’s 6042

Now, directly within SAS, I can login to ModSpace, which allows me to access the files in my entry, but prevents me from accessing those I do not have permissions to alter:

Next I can create a number of libraries from the contents of my Entry’s folders ready for me to use (I can even do this across multiple Entries if I wish):

Now I can run my SAS code, making alterations and additions within the checked out libraries:

When I have finished I can check my changes back into ModSpace, with an optional commit comment to explain what I’ve done. This will also tidy up after me and clear out the temporary libraries:

These changes are now shown in ModSpace:

And that’s it! Thanks to this development piece ModSpace is now an excellent way to store and collaborate on SAS datasets, as well as other project files, for users who work within a SAS environment.

Additionally, users who have SAS installed on their desktop now have the option of using these simple macros or using ModSpace’s Local Working Manager in order to work on their project/script files.

If you would like further information please contact us on info@mango-solutions.com