Hi Tanya, You really cannot lose with either Perl or Python. Either of them, along with other tools mentioned, will suffice for making your work SAS-free. But I would also not underestimate R for "data-cleaning"...
> Is there a fairly easy way to become SAS-free for data management and > cleaning? I'm told R is really not ideal for data cleaning. I must admit that I am always eager to debunk the myth that SAS is (so much) better than the S language for data management, because to me the myth mostly points out that many statisticians have never used anything else but SAS. Best Regards, Bill ---------------------------------------- Bill Pikounis, Ph.D. Biometrics Research Department Merck Research Laboratories PO Box 2000, MailDrop RY84-16 126 E. Lincoln Avenue Rahway, New Jersey 07065-0900 USA [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone: 732 594 3913 Fax: 732 594 1565 > -----Original Message----- > From: Tanya Murphy [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Monday, March 31, 2003 9:04 AM > To: Bashir Saghir (Aztek Global); [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: RE: [R] Statistical computing > > > Thanks to all who have replied to this. I find the advice > very encouraging. > I've been reading the recommended links on Sweave and I think > it will answer a > major part of my goals. > > As for Perl vs. Python, I don't know which would be best. > I've started out in > Perl because someone got me started with a little Perl > program, but I've > looked at Python, too. I'm working in Windows (and that's not > likely to change > anytime soon--at the office, anyway) and I think WinEdt > serves as a good > enhanced editor for the main applications--LaTex, R and > Perl--as well as a way > to organize the files for a project. The GUI for Pyton seems > nice, too, > though. > > Saghir, why do you prefer Python? > > Is there a fairly easy way to become SAS-free for data management and > cleaning? I'm told R is really not ideal for data cleaning. > Is this what RODBC > is about? > > Tanya > > > >===== Original Message From "Bashir Saghir (Aztek Global)" > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ===== > >Dear Tanya, > > > >Have you considered using Python (www.python.org) instead of > Perl? I use > >Python, LaTeX, and R for doing what you describe. My process > is evolving and > >cannot recommend it as being the best. Essentially I am > moving towards a > >database approach currently using dictionaries in Python. In > the longer term > >I plan to switch to MySQL. > > > >In summary I split the problem into bits that link into a relational > >database and use meta data to run my reports. So once the > data base is set > >up I only need to give the key information and my programs > find all relevant > >information in the database meaning that I never need to > modify any programs > >to run a report with new data - just the database. > > > >I don't know of any references for this bnut if you get any > to your original > >query I would be interested. > > > >Best regards, > >Saghir > > > >> -----Original Message----- > >> From: Tanya Murphy [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > >> Sent: Friday, 28 March, 2003 5:42 PM > >> To: r-help > >> Subject: [R] Statistical computing > >> > >> Hello, > >> > >> I've been trying to familiarize myself with the computing > tools of the > >> trade > >> (e.g. SAS, R, Perl, LaTex) and I've been getting somewhere with the > >> individual > >> programs, but I'm trying to get a better sense of how to > integrate these > >> tools. I'd like to use scripts and create reports in a > more organized way. > >> Can > >> anyone recommend books or, better yet free online > articles, on this topic? > >> > >> Maybe I should be a little more specific about what I do: > I'm a research > >> assistant in clinical epidemiology doing mainly data management and > >> analysis. > >> I do a number of repetitive tasks like updating a research > database from > >> the > >> original clinic database and other sources, create reports, create > >> graphical > >> output for individual patients, as well as work on > individual research > >> projects. Unfortunately I am not working closely with > 'real' statisticians > >> who > >> have probably developped good work habits using these > tools. Any advice on > >> > >> 'the big picture' would be greatly appreciated. > >> > >> Thanks! > >> > >> Tanya Murphy > >> > > ______________________________________________ > [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailing list > https://www.stat.math.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-help > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ______________________________________________ [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailing list https://www.stat.math.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-help
