AD03 GoodsHound - Building Multi-Functional Web-Based Applications with SAS/IntrNet(R) and JavaScript     Contributed

Blake Sanders U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Division ,Mikhail Gruzdev
U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Division
Abstract: We’ve essentially stripped our sedan down to the chassis and built it into asphalt burning street machine. The Foreign Trade Division (FTD) of the U.S. Census Bureau has used SAS/MDDBs to access trade data quickly and easily for years. However, the produc tion of those files became burdensome as the source data grew in size. Consequently, we created SAS/MDDBs “on the fly” (with our “Flying MDDB” application) and eliminated a lot of problems. Other problems, however, surfaced. The SCL interface limited our a ccess when our LAN allowed us to get to the program at all. Our new solution, named “GoodsHound”, uses SAS/IntrNet to access the same source data as our previous application without the same limitations. Output is easier and cleaner thanks to ODS. There i s even some of the same flexibility from SAS/MDDBs. All of this, of course, comes with the price of being more complex and difficult to maintain. Given the plusses of the application, however, we’re willing to do the work. “GoodsHound” helps us accomplish our mission faster and easier than ever before. It gives us the flexibility of SAS/MDDBs without the MDDBs.

Biography:
Mr. Sanders has worked for the U.S. Census Bureau's Foreign Trade Division for over ten years. The last five years have been spent developing new data tools to access U.S. trade information as well as purveying other forms of digital witchcraft. His other duties include finding new and exciting ways to take advantage of SAS technology. He previously presented "The SAS/MDDB Shell Game: Options They Don't Show in SAS/HELP" at SUGI 25 with Mikhail Gruzdev.

Mr. Gruzdev has worked for the U.S. Census Bureau for over two years. Prior to that, he was a contractor and miracle worker for the Bureau for three years. In additional to occasionally walking on water, Mr. Gruzdev researches new technology and develops p roof of concept prototypes to expand the abilities of the Foreign Trade Division of the Census Bureau. He previously presented "The SAS/MDDB Shell Game: Options They Don't Show in SAS/HELP" at SUGI 25 with Blake Sanders.