Use the CData ODBC Driver for PostgreSQL in SAS for Real-Time Reporting and Analytics

SAS is a software suite developed for advanced analytics, multivariate analysis, business intelligence, data management, and predictive analytics. When you pair SAS with the CData ODBC Driver for PostgreSQL, you gain database-like access to live PostgreSQL data from SAS, expanding your reporting and analytics capabilities. This article explains how to create a library for PostgreSQL in SAS and create a simple report based on real-time PostgreSQL data.

The CData ODBC Driver offers unmatched performance for interacting with live PostgreSQL data in SAS due to optimized data processing built into the driver. When you issue complex SQL queries from SAS to PostgreSQL, the driver pushes supported SQL operations, like filters and aggregations, directly to PostgreSQL and utilizes the embedded SQL engine to process unsupported operations (often SQL functions and JOIN operations) client-side. With built-in dynamic metadata querying, you can easily visualize and analyze PostgreSQL data in SAS.

Connect to PostgreSQL as an ODBC Data Source

Information for connecting to PostgreSQL follows, along with different instructions for configuring a DSN in Windows and Linux environments (the ODBC Driver for PostgreSQL must be installed on the machine hosting the SAS System).

To connect to PostgreSQL, set the Server, Port (the default port is 5432), and Database connection properties and set the User and Password you wish to use to authenticate to the server. If the Database property is not specified, the data provider connects to the user's default database.

SSH Connectivity for PostgreSQL

You can use SSH (Secure Shell) to authenticate with PostgreSQL, whether the instance is hosted on-premises or in supported cloud environments. SSH authentication ensures that access is encrypted (as compared to direct network connections).

SSH Connections to PostgreSQL in Password Auth Mode

To connect to PostgreSQL via SSH in Password Auth mode, set the following connection properties:

• User: PostgreSQL User name
• Password: PostgreSQL Password
• Database: PostgreSQL database name
• Server: PostgreSQL Server name
• Port: PostgreSQL port number like 3306
• UserSSH: "true"
• SSHAuthMode: "Password"
• SSHPort: SSH Port number
• SSHServer: SSH Server name
• SSHUser: SSH User name
• SSHPassword: SSH Password

SSH Connections to PostgreSQL in Public Key Auth Mode

To connect to PostgreSQL via SSH in Password Auth mode, set the following connection properties:

• User: PostgreSQL User name
• Password: PostgreSQL Password
• Database: PostgreSQL database name
• Server: PostgreSQL Server name
• Port: PostgreSQL port number like 3306
• UserSSH: "true"
• SSHAuthMode: "Public_Key"
• SSHPort: SSH Port number
• SSHServer: SSH Server name
• SSHUser: SSH User name
• SSHClientCret: the path for the public key certificate file

When you configure the DSN, you may also want to set the Max Rows connection property. This will limit the number of rows returned, which is especially helpful for improving performance when designing reports and visualizations.

Windows

If you have not already, first specify connection properties in an ODBC DSN (data source name). This is the last step of the driver installation. You can use the Microsoft ODBC Data Source Administrator to create and configure ODBC DSNs.

Linux

If you are installing the CData ODBC Driver for PostgreSQL in a Linux environment, the driver installation predefines a system DSN. You can modify the DSN by editing the system data sources file (/etc/odbc.ini) and defining the required connection properties.

/etc/odbc.ini

[CData PostgreSQL Sys]
Driver = CData ODBC Driver for PostgreSQL
Description = My Description
User = postgres
Password = admin
Database = postgres
Server = 127.0.0.1
Port = 5432

For specific information on using these configuration files, please refer to the help documentation (installed and found online).

Create a PostgreSQL Library in SAS

Connect to PostgreSQL in SAS by adding a library based on the CData ODBC Driver for PostgreSQL.

1. Open SAS and expand Libraries in the Explorer pane.
2. In the Active Libraries window, right-click and select New.
3. Name your library (odbclib), select ODBC as the Engine, and click to Enable at startup (if you want the library to persist between sessions).
4. Set Data Source to the DSN you previously configured and click OK. 👁 Creating a library for PostgreSQL in SAS.
   

Create a View from a PostgreSQL Query

SAS natively supports querying data either using a low-code, point-and-click Query tool or programmatically with PROC SQL and a custom SQL query. When you create a View in SAS, the defining query is executed each time the view is queried. This means that you always query live PostgreSQL data for reports, charts, and analytics.

Using the Query Tool

1. In SAS, click Tools -> Query
2. Select the table sources and the table(s) you wish to pull data from. Then, click OK. 👁 Selecting table(s) to visualize.
   
3. Select columns and right-click to add filtering, ordering, grouping, etc. 👁 Selecting columns(s) to visualize and configuring the query.
   
4. Create a local view to contain the query results by right-clicking the SQL Query Tool window, selecting Show Query, and clicking Create View. Name the View and click OK. 👁 Create a local view to work with PostgreSQL data.
   

Using PROC SQL

1. In SAS, navigate to the Editor window.
2. Use PROC SQL to query the data and create a local view.
   NOTE: This procedure creates a view in the Work library. You can optionally specify a library in the create view statement.

   proc sql;
    create view orders_view as
    select 
    shipname, 
    shipcity 
    from 
    odbclib.orders 
    where 
    ShipCountry = 'USA';
   quit;
   

3. Click Run -> Submit to execute the query and create a local view.

Report On or Visualize PostgreSQL Data in SAS

With a local view created, you can report, visualize, or otherwise analyze PostgreSQL data using the powerful SAS features. Print a simple report using PROC PRINT and create a basic graph based on the data using PROC GCHART.

Print an HTML Report

1. In SAS, navigate to the Editor window.
2. Use PROC PRINT to print an HTML report for the PostgreSQL Orders data.

   proc print data=orders;
    title "PostgreSQL Orders Data";
   run;
   

   👁 A simple PostgreSQL data report.
   

Print a Chart

1. In SAS, navigate to the Editor window.
2. Use PROC GCHART to create a chart for the Orders data.

   proc gchart data=orders;
    pie shipname / sumvar=shipcity
    value=arrow
    percent=arrow
    noheading
    percent=inside plabel=(height=12pt)
    slice=inside value=none
    name='OrdersChart';
   run;
   

   👁 A simple PostgreSQL data chart.