Getting Started with SAS/AF(R) and Frames

SAS/AF software is a set of tools for developing applications. Central to the SAS/AF development environment is the frame. You can think of a frame as an application window that contains the interface (the fields and buttons) of your application. With SAS/AF frame application development, you can build much of your application visually, using drag-and-drop components. And because SAS/AF applications are stored in SAS catalogs, they are portable to all SAS software platforms.

This book provides an introduction to application development using SAS/AF and FRAME entries. Geared to the SAS/AF beginner, the instruction and examples can be used with SAS 8.1 through SAS®9. In just a few steps, you'll develop a graphical user interface and a multiple-window application. This primer is an ideal starting point for becoming a FRAME entry expert.

This document is an introduction to the SAS/AF development environment. It guides you through the basic skills that you need to build a simple frame application. It also gives you a foundation with which you can transition to the larger reference manuals that fully cover SAS/AF software.

Although this document is intended for new users of SAS/AF, you should be familiar with basic SAS concepts such as libraries, catalogs, and catalog entries. You do not need object-oriented programming experience to benefit from this document, but familiarity with object-oriented concepts will certainly help.

Although specific to SAS/AF in SAS®9, the overall processes that are presented in this document also apply to versions of SAS/AF software starting with SAS 8.1.