SAS (Statistical Analysis System) is the most powerful software suite used for data analysis, advanced analytics, business intelligence, and predictive modelling. Developed by the SAS Institute, it enables users to access, manage, analyse, and visualise large volumes of data with ease. Enrolling in a SAS Training in Chennai can help you master these skills and boost your analytics career. In this blog, we will discuss how to create stunning visualisations in SAS.
Why Visualisation Matters in Data Analysis
Visualisation plays a critical role in simplifying complex data and making patterns easier to detect. While rows and columns can feel overwhelming, a good graph can convey the same information in seconds. Whether you’re analysing customer behaviour, tracking KPIs, or presenting business trends, visualisation improves both comprehension and communication.
Getting Started: SAS Visual Analytics
SAS Visual Analytics is a leading tool in the SAS suite for designing interactive dashboards and reports. With Clinical SAS Training in Chennai, you can learn how to use this platform effectively for healthcare and clinical data analysis. Its intuitive drag-and-drop features and built-in visual options make it suitable for users at all levels.
Key Features:
- Drag-and-drop interface
- Data filtering and sorting options
- Integration with SQL and Excel
- Real-time dashboard updates
- Export options for PDF, PowerPoint, and web
To start, you’ll need a dataset either imported directly into SAS or fetched from a connected database. Once your data is available, you can begin visualising with just a few clicks.
Popular Visualisation Types in SAS
SAS supports a wide variety of chart types that cater to different analytical needs. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most commonly used visualisations:
1. Bar Charts and Column Charts
Ideal for comparing categories or discrete variables. They help in analysing sales by region, product categories, or customer demographics. If you want to master database technologies and enhance your data analysis skills, enrolling in SQL Training in Chennai is a significant step.
2. Line Charts
Perfect for trend analysis over time. These are useful for viewing stock performance, website traffic, or revenue growth.
3. Pie Charts
Helpful in showing proportions. Although not ideal for all scenarios, they can help illustrate percentage shares within a dataset.
4. Scatter Plots
Used for identifying relationships or correlations between two variables, such as marketing spend vs sales.
5. Heat Maps
Great for visualising the density of data across multiple variables, functional in geographical analysis or customer segmentation.
6. Box Plots
These are excellent for showing data distribution, medians, and outliers, which highlight some key advantages of SAS in statistical analysis and data visualisation.
Customising Your Visualisations
What makes a visual truly stunning isn’t just the type of chart, but how you present it. SAS allows for a wide range of customisation options:
- Colors and Themes: Choose from preset themes or create your own.
- Data Labels: Add precise values to charts to make interpretation easier.
- Filters and Parameters: Add interactive controls that allow users to change views dynamically.
- Hierarchical Drilling: Let users click on parts of the graph to drill down into finer levels of detail.
When customising, always remember your audience. Keep visualisations clean, avoid clutter, and ensure that your message is instantly clear.
Creating Interactive Dashboards
Once you’ve created individual charts, you can combine them into interactive dashboards. These dashboards can display multiple visualisations from different datasets, all updated in real-time. You can also set up interactions between charts, such as clicking on a bar to filter other views.
Creating dashboards in SAS Visual Analytics is as simple as dragging charts onto a canvas, aligning them, and adding filters or dropdown selectors. Join the Best Training Institute in Chennai to master these skills. Dashboards can be shared internally, exported as PDFs or PowerPoint presentations, or embedded into websites.
Tips for Stunning SAS Visualisations
Here are some best practices to make your visuals stand out:
- Start with a clear objective: Know what story you’re telling.
- Select the appropriate chart type: Match the chart to the data purpose.
- Avoid unnecessary decoration: Stick to a clean, professional look.
- Use contrasting colours: Ensure visibility and readability.
- Test interactivity: Ensure that filters, parameters, and links function smoothly.
- Add annotations: Help viewers understand key takeaways at a glance.
Creating stunning visualisations in SAS doesn’t require deep programming skills, just a good understanding of your data and the right tools. With SAS Visual Analytics, you can produce insightful, interactive visuals that empower decision-makers and impress stakeholders. From bar charts and scatter plots to interactive dashboards, SAS turns raw data into powerful stories.
Read More: How Can You Boost Your Clinical SAS Career In India?
