Giving the SAS Program Editor Under Linux a Windows Look and Feel
Simply put, the SAS Program Editor under Linux is mainframelike. While it functions perfectly well and is preferred by some, those familiar with using SAS for Windows find the default behavior of this editor archaic and off-putting.
With a few tweaks the Linux editor will display the following more Windowslike behaviors:
- line numbers are no longer displayed
- the Enter key splits lines; the Backspace key joins lines
keystrokes insert by default when there is text at the cursor [this behavior may be toggled to overtype with the Insert key]
- cut [Ctrl-C] and paste [Ctrl-V] operations work as expected
These configuration steps are described for Version 9.4 of SAS for Linux.
Configuration changes are permanently saved in a directory (folder) called sasuser.v94 under your network home directory.
Open SAS from the Linux command line: sas &
1. Modify SAS Program Editor Options
From the Program Editor window, select Tools > Options > Program Editor...
the SAS: Program Editor Options window opens
Select the Editing tab, then:
select the Split lines on a carriage return option
deselect the Display line numbers option
click OK to save settings and close the window
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- The line numbers at the left of the editor window disappear
2. Modify SAS Preferences
From any window, select Tools > Options > Preferences...
the Preferences window opens
Select the DMS tab, then:
in the Display Manager settings, select the Save Settings on Exit option (
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very important for ensuring these modifications are retained across sessions) in the Help & Documentation Browser - Browser Path box, replace netscape with bin/firefox.
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Select the Editing tab, then:
deselect the Automatically store selection option
change the Cursor setting from Overtype to Insert
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Click OK to save all preference changes and close the window.
3. Modify SAS Keys Settings
From any window, select Tools > Options > Keys
the SAS: KEYS window opens
In the SAS: KEYS type store and paste into the following key definitions
Key
Definition
Ctrl C
store
Ctrl V
paste
Select File > Save
Then select File > Close