This File Was Created With An Older Version Of Visual Certexam Than You Have
Hilke Mcnally
I failed my first attempt at the SAS 9.4 Base Programming -- Performance-based exam today. The one major issue I had was accessing the files used for the exam. For the project part of the exam, we need to manipulate datasets in the files in the input folder. However, when I attempt to manipulate the datasets, the error message read that I was not authorized to modify the files. I spent more than an hour of my exam trying to figure this out. What am I not getting here? Are we supposed to know code to modify authorized files? Or is there some kind of password we use to be able to modify the files? I feel like there is something simple I am not getting here.
You *could* do it that way, but using PROC DATASETS to copy all the files is a much more broad-spectrum approach than I was suggesting. During the project portion, anytime you are asked to work with a data set you have control over where you store the results. So, yes, you need to establish your own library like you did in your LIBNAME statement, but then you just need to use it when you store the results you create.
For example, if you are asked to sort a data set, then use OUT= in PROC SORT to save it to your library. If you are modifying data in a DATA step, then make sure your DATA statement saves the results in your library rather than trying to overwrite the data you are provided. (These are both good programming practices anyway, but in the testing environment they are required.) @Mark2010 gives a pretty good run down of the process in his example videos - but maybe you ran into an issue that I'm not understanding. In any case, I cannot imagine a scenario where you would want to copy over all the data sets - this is a timed exam, so I'd advise test-takers to be spending their time only working with the required data sets!
this file was created with an older version of visual certexam than you have
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I watched the videos from @Mark2010 several times and did not see any examples of how I can do what you explained in your last response. He mentions the write-protected files, but no examples of how he accesses the data.
The first example sorts the read-only data set SasHelp.Cars and saves the result in your Work library as MyCars. This uses the OUT= option to avoid sorting the data set in place which is the default of PROC SORT.
The second example is adapted (because I don't remember the exact details) from @Mark2010's video where he demonstrates the testing environment. It reads in the SasHelp.Shoes data set, which is also read-only for you, and subsets the data. The subset is stored in the Example library, which I created with the LIBNAME statement. (Note, when doing this you need to make sure the path you select points to a location where you have write-access.)
If you're still having an issue knowing when/how to work with files using read- vs write-access. I'd suggest taking a look at either the certification guides, a SAS book (full disclosure, I'm an author of one, but there are lots of options that would cover this content), or even digging into the SAS documentation. The syntax can vary from PROC to PROC on how to save your data (or use ODS OUTPUT to simplify the syntax), so there is no "one size fits all" approach to this topic.
SAS documentation is also helpful for all sorts (pun intended) of questions you may have while learning SAS and preparing for certification exams. I tend to use Google with a prefix of "SAS 9.4" such as in this case I would search for "SAS 9.4 PROC SORT OUT="
I hit the first result from Google, click on examples and see that even the basic examples of PROC SORT include an OUT= statement (which is a best practice in my opinion because it doesn't alter your original data set).
The exam files are similar in structure to what you describe in the "S:\ > workshop > cert." paragraph, but the specific directory names will be different. The exam provides the specific instructions to access the correct directories for input and output data sets.
In real exam, it was described that file is located at "C:/Cert" and within Cert folder, there was 4 folders: Input, Errors, Output, and Programs. Input data was in the "Input" folder. I had assigned the = libname input "C:/Cert/Input"; After using this libname reference in the set statement= set input.input28; but i was not getting data in output window. Also, I had checked the properties of "Input" folder and size was 0 bytes. I saw the all input datasets name but after executing the proc sort with set statement, it was null at output tab. I belived that Virtual Lab was not loaded with data or any contents.
@bsd70 just a note of caution about discussing exam materials in public forums - It is a violation of the candidate agreement. You haven't crossed the line but you are close. Specific exam concerns should be addressed to certif...@sas.com via email.
That being said, I assure you that your input data folder contained the data sets (I checked your lab as you tested recently and the data is still there). Given that all exam labs are simply copied from a master template virtual machine at the start of your exam, there is 0 chance that corruption in the template could result in the data being missing. It's possible if the bits got scrambled in the copy that the entire lab would not work (though I've never seen this occur), but no-way could there be missing files.
Trust that your SAS is executing your code exactly as you have written it, and if it's not working right, the problem is the code. It's like a magic genie. If you tell it "Make me a peanut butter sandwich", don't be upset when you are suddenly turned into a PB sandwich. This takes a combination of humility to accept that the code isn't right and confidence that you have the skills to fix it. It is possible that your code was syntactically correct and produced no errors, but was logically wrong. You may have used one libname in your LIBNAME statement and another in your PROC SORT. And a note on PROC SORT: It is important to understand where the sorted data is created by default without any additional options. The A00-231 Exam Content Guide is your friend here.
I am sorry about if any. I reviewed previous post about this issue to get knowledge and I have written my experience. I have used the contents as given in the publicized content materials. My intension is learning and share good vibes. I have reviewed documents and videos before taking exams as per link given. I will do so again if I am missing any.
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Last week I sat for both the SPHR test through HRCI and the SHRM-SCP certification through SHRM and I am happy (and relieved) to share that I passed both tests on my first attempt. I had already mastered the PHR exam from HRCI back in 2017. Since that time, I had started to hear about people taking the SHRM-CP and seeing the designation start to pop up on the LinkedIn profiles of fellow HR professionals. It was then that I learned that SHRM had decided to offer their own certifications and break off from HRCI. Since then, I have always wondered which one is better in terms of marketability. When I decided that I wanted to upgrade my HR certifications to the senior level in August of 2020, I had a decision to make. Which one was I going to pursue? The SPHR or the SHRM-SCP? The SPHR is backed by HRCI, who is the longest player in the HR certification space and is still well known and recognized by HR professionals. The SHRM-SCP on the other hand seems to be growing quickly in market share, and from my research some people think that it will have better brand presence and recognition with the SHRM name behind it. There is a part of me that will always continue to root for HRCI even if SHRM surpasses it. Anyway, the verdict still seems to be a big question mark on which one is more marketable or if both are comparable. So, I decided, why not have both? So I registered for both exams and decided I would take them in the same week so that I only had to study the material once.
Before I go into the study materials I purchased, my thoughts on them, and some tips for studying, let me first explain my initial reaction from both tests and the testing experience. Both tests were challenging. Those who are familiar with the pass rates will understand that it is a grueling experience and not something I would recommend that you walk into unprepared or relying only on your experience. I did the remote proctoring for the HRCI test and did the in person test for the SHRM-SCP.
The first test was the SPHR test at 12pm on Wednesday. The remote proctoring experience was not a pleasant one. I could write a lot about that, but basically the proctor didn't show up and the test didn't launch until about 12:50pm after I had to call customer service to figure out what was going on. So I was starting the test after being in panic mode. After I got into the test, everything went fine. The test was challenging. Some of the questions were difficult to understand with the way they were written. Part of me thinks HRCI intentionally is trying to make the questions more tricky to try to make their test more difficult to compete with SHRM. I definitely understand why some of the test prep programs tell you that if English is your second language, that you may find the test even more challenging. Something that was also different from when I took the PHR, is that they added alternative type questions. It is not just multiple choice options. Some questions have more than one answer to check, they have drag and drop matching questions, and fill in the blank options are also a possibility. If you get any portion of those wrong, there is no partial credit. So it makes the chances of answering a question less than the typical 25% compared to when you take a standard multiple choice format. I was flagging a lot of questions throughout the test that I wasn't 100% confident on. I finished my test and only had time to review a few of the flagged answers. Once the time ran out and the test ended, I wasn't sure whether the end result would be a pass or a fail. The test ended around 4pm. I really had to go to the bathroom at that point (the check in process started at 11:40am). Then I got an email within a few minutes saying that my scores were available and then another email from HRCI saying that I had a new badge to add to my account. I was excited!!! I passed! I was relieved to be done with the test and vowed to never do it again. After receiving the score report, I actually scored pretty well on most of the categories.
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