How can interactive reports be created in SAS?

Interactive reports in SAS can be created effectively by utilizing the Output Delivery System (ODS) in conjunction with SAS Visual Analytics. ODS provides a means to generate sophisticated graphical presentations and enhances the visibility of the data analysis content. When ODS is applied, it allows for the creation of dynamic and interactive content, tailored to the needs of the end user.

SAS Visual Analytics further complements this capability by offering a suite of tools aimed at building reports that not only display data visually but also enable user interaction, such as filtering, drilling down, and exploring data in real time. This integrated approach provides an engaging experience for report consumers, allowing them to manipulate data as per their requirements, which is essential for modern data analysis and visualization.

In contrast, relying solely on PROC REPORT, while it does create reports, does not inherently provide the interactive functionalities typically associated with interactive reporting. The DATA step procedures focus primarily on data manipulation rather than presentation, and manual Excel exports do not offer the flexibility or automation necessary for interactive reporting.