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karthik_1505 · Beginner Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Posts: 12 Topics: 5

Hi,

Comparing SAS over COBOL/FOCUS, it has any disadvantages at all, (other than the licensing fees)? or in other way, COBOL/FOCUS is advantageous over SAS in any way at all?

If the answer is no, can anyone highlight the core functionalitites/advantages of SAS and how/where they exist in COBOL/FOCUS?

Thanks,
Karthik

kolusu · Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2005 10:27 am Post subject:

karthik_1505,

IMHO comparing sas to cobol is not right. However SAS and FOCUS can be compared.

SAS has a reputation as inefficient in terms of CPU Usage for large volume processing. For a small and medium size applications, SAS is the right tool. For large Size applications FOCUS is the winner.

Hope this helps...

Cheers

Kolusu
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karthik_1505 · Beginner Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Posts: 12 Topics: 5

Thanks Kolusu,

Actually, we are giving a proposal to move to Focus from SAS (in order to cut licensing fees). We need to make the Users understand the advantages of moving off from SAS.

Apart from the monetary front, we need to show advantages/disadvantages between SAS and FOCUS/COBOL in areas like:

1. Development ease
2. Ability for users to generate own reports
3. Accessibility to data, speed with which to generate new reports
4. Any mainframe infrastructure considerations
5. Others?

Thanks,
Karthik

jetson · Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2005 2:18 pm Post subject:

I respectfully disagree. SAS may have "had" a reputation for inefficeincy, but that is no longer true. In fact, version 9 is now multi-threaded.

The real power however, is in it's capabilities - far beyond Focus IMO. I suppose if you can save money by moving to Focus, then there's nothing to discuss. But you will certainly not achieve your goals by converting from SAS (if you have a SAS shop already).

Maybe you can move your SAS platform to midrange to save money. Linux and SAS are a great combination, and far less expensive than mainframe.

Kenny