1. Set Yourself Free-- Use ODS Report Writing Technology in SAS EG Instead of Dynamic Data Exchange in PC SAS Robert R. Springborn, Ph.D. Office Statewide Health Planning & Development, Healthcare Outcomes Center Sacramento, California September 5-7, 2012 Western Users of SAS Software Long Beach, CA

2. Talk Overview 1) MOTIVATON Need to update an MS Excel report created using Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) in PC SAS. However Migration to SAS EG now requires the custom report to live in SAS EG. 2) OLD METHOD What is Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE)? 3) NEW METHOD ODS Report Writing technology is a better solution and it lives in SAS EG! 4) DATA APPLICATION Why do we need this report? 5) PROGRAMMING TIPS Functional Groups and Peer-Review (paper only). 6) RESULTS Sample pages of new report.

3. MOTIVATION What started this whole project? Everyone loves a report in MS Excel because you can: investigate trends and differences using a large selection of colorful graphs, charts, and statistical analysis tools. However during review, staff can change the appearance of the report by altering font size and type, and delete or add information to the report. Everyone loves a report in MS Excel because you can: investigate trends and differences using a large selection of colorful graphs, charts, and statistical analysis tools. However during review, staff can change the appearance of the report by altering font size and type, and delete or add information to the report. The office is migrating to SAS EG which does not support Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE). So the new report must have the appearance of the MS Excel report but must be created using SAS EG. The office is migrating to SAS EG which does not support Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE). So the new report must have the appearance of the MS Excel report but must be created using SAS EG. Let’s examine Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) and compare it to a better solution of ODS Report Writing technology for creating a custom report. Let’s examine Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) and compare it to a better solution of ODS Report Writing technology for creating a custom report.

4. OLD METHOD What is Dynamic Data Exchange? Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) is a powerful tool within SAS that programmers can use to send SAS data sets directly into formatted Microsoft Excel tables. Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) is a powerful tool within SAS that programmers can use to send SAS data sets directly into formatted Microsoft Excel tables. Dynamic Data Exchange both reduces human error because the data are not hand entered into Excel where numerical precision can be lost, and saves time since the user need not format the table manually. Dynamic Data Exchange both reduces human error because the data are not hand entered into Excel where numerical precision can be lost, and saves time since the user need not format the table manually. DDE includes SAS code and macros for advanced SAS users that can be used to open Excel from SAS; custom design worksheet tables by changing font properties and table properties; create headers and footers; specify page setup options; auto-fit specific columns; and create multiple worksheets within a single MS Excel file in a specified order with sheet names specified by the user. DDE includes SAS code and macros for advanced SAS users that can be used to open Excel from SAS; custom design worksheet tables by changing font properties and table properties; create headers and footers; specify page setup options; auto-fit specific columns; and create multiple worksheets within a single MS Excel file in a specified order with sheet names specified by the user.

5. OLD METHOD Benefits and Liabilities of DDE. Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) requires a template which defines the desired presentation or “style” for the report. The DDE program code reads SAS data, applies template instructions, and places the result at a specific cell or region. Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) requires a template which defines the desired presentation or “style” for the report. The DDE program code reads SAS data, applies template instructions, and places the result at a specific cell or region. However it can be very time consuming to write DDE code. Writing DDE program code requires calculating the cell or region for each report item which is difficult and very time consuming. Also these instructions are relational instead of absolute so inserting or removing a report item causes MS Excel to shift the location of remaining report items. However it can be very time consuming to write DDE code. Writing DDE program code requires calculating the cell or region for each report item which is difficult and very time consuming. Also these instructions are relational instead of absolute so inserting or removing a report item causes MS Excel to shift the location of remaining report items. ODS Report Writing technology does not require a template and gives you the ability to position custom designed tables, header, footers, of various sizes on the same page with ease. ODS Report Writing technology does not require a template and gives you the ability to position custom designed tables, header, footers, of various sizes on the same page with ease.

6. OLD METHOD Benefits and Liabilities of DDE (cont.) Locating a page of the DDE report is difficult because the user must activate a worksheet tab to view the next page of the report. In ODS Report Writing technology the “PDF” report is a continuous file which includes bookmarks that send the user directly to each page of the report. Locating a page of the DDE report is difficult because the user must activate a worksheet tab to view the next page of the report. In ODS Report Writing technology the “PDF” report is a continuous file which includes bookmarks that send the user directly to each page of the report. Printing the DDE report is difficult because you must manually change print region size of each worksheet “page” so page contents fit nicely on each printed page of the report. Printing a report created with ODS Report Writing technology is simple because the entire report is a single continuous “PDF” file. Printing the DDE report is difficult because you must manually change print region size of each worksheet “page” so page contents fit nicely on each printed page of the report. Printing a report created with ODS Report Writing technology is simple because the entire report is a single continuous “PDF” file. Finally the DDE report can be altered by the user which may not be desirable. This new method creates a read only “pdf” file which cannot be altered and therefore protects confidential and sensitive information. Finally the DDE report can be altered by the user which may not be desirable. This new method creates a read only “pdf” file which cannot be altered and therefore protects confidential and sensitive information.

7. NEW METHOD What is ODS Report Writing Technology? Object Oriented Programming using Data Null has long been an integral part of the custom report writing offered by SAS. This new technology is perfectly suited for creating custom invoices, inserting narrative descriptions in a table or document, creating form letters and non-rectangular reports, inserting custom subtotals, and it will address a variety of custom reporting needs. Object Oriented Programming using Data Null has long been an integral part of the custom report writing offered by SAS. This new technology is perfectly suited for creating custom invoices, inserting narrative descriptions in a table or document, creating form letters and non-rectangular reports, inserting custom subtotals, and it will address a variety of custom reporting needs. The ODS Report Writing technology is intended to fully embrace ODS features such as proportional fonts, traffic lighting, using colors, images, Unicode characters, while at the same time providing pixel perfect placement capabilities. This technology also takes advantage of the rich programming features that the DATA step offers such as conditional logic, formatting capabilities, by-group processing, arrays, and a wealth of other features. The ODS Report Writing technology is intended to fully embrace ODS features such as proportional fonts, traffic lighting, using colors, images, Unicode characters, while at the same time providing pixel perfect placement capabilities. This technology also takes advantage of the rich programming features that the DATA step offers such as conditional logic, formatting capabilities, by-group processing, arrays, and a wealth of other features.

8. DATA APPLICATION Why do we need this report? Each year OSHPD publishes the California Report on Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)Surgery which includes a report card that compares risk-adjusted operative mortality for 315 surgeons and 122 hospitals in California. Each year OSHPD publishes the California Report on Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)Surgery which includes a report card that compares risk-adjusted operative mortality for 315 surgeons and 122 hospitals in California. This report card uses ten risk factors reported to both a clinical data source called California CABG Outcome Reporting Program (CCORP), and an administrative data source called Patient Discharge Data (PDD). This report card uses ten risk factors reported to both a clinical data source called California CABG Outcome Reporting Program (CCORP), and an administrative data source called Patient Discharge Data (PDD). Risk factors include: all CABG surgeries; Status of Isolated and Non-Isolated CABG surgery; Resuscitation Prior to CABG Procedure; CABG surgery deaths; and five postoperative complications of stroke, renal dialysis, prolonged ventilation, bleed/tamponade, infection, and graft occlusion. Risk factors include: all CABG surgeries; Status of Isolated and Non-Isolated CABG surgery; Resuscitation Prior to CABG Procedure; CABG surgery deaths; and five postoperative complications of stroke, renal dialysis, prolonged ventilation, bleed/tamponade, infection, and graft occlusion.

9. DATA APPLICATION Why do we need this report? The subject of this paper is to create a data discrepancy report which identifies differences in risk factors reported to both data sources. Hospitals are required to review patient medical charts to verify that coding of each risk factor is consistent in both data sources. The subject of this paper is to create a data discrepancy report which identifies differences in risk factors reported to both data sources. Hospitals are required to review patient medical charts to verify that coding of each risk factor is consistent in both data sources. It is important to ensure each patient record receives the correct risk adjusted weight. Hospitals that handle more complex cases receive a larger risk-adjustment weight in the risk model, and hospitals that handle less complex cases receive a smaller weight. Thus hospitals and surgeons treating sicker patients are not at a disadvantage when their performance is compared with other hospitals or surgeons. It is important to ensure each patient record receives the correct risk adjusted weight. Hospitals that handle more complex cases receive a larger risk-adjustment weight in the risk model, and hospitals that handle less complex cases receive a smaller weight. Thus hospitals and surgeons treating sicker patients are not at a disadvantage when their performance is compared with other hospitals or surgeons. Code details are available upon request (WUSS 2013). Code details are available upon request (WUSS 2013). Quick look at old report. Quick look at old report. Quick look at new report. Quick look at new report.

10. RESULTS Page 1 of new report

11. RESULTS Page 2 of new report

12. RESULTS Page 3 of new report

13. Conclusion In today’s world, where the ability to prepare complex reports and convey your message in a clear and concise manner, is an absolute imperative in today’s sophisticated business environment, ODS Report Writing technology is an powerful alternative to Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE). In addition when many organizations are transitioning to SAS EG for their data collection, analytics, and data reporting needs ODS Report Writing technology can replace the use of DDE which is not compatible with SAS EG.

14. Thanks for your attention Your comments and questions are valued and encouraged. Also if you would like a copy of the SAS code. Contact the author at: Robert Richard Springborn, Ph.D. Healthcare Outcomes Center Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development 400 R Street, Suite 250 Sacramento, CA 95811-6213 Office (916) 326- 3874 Robert.Springborn@oshpd.ca.gov