SAS in that context here, is Software and is called the SAS System.

SAS software offers business solutions that are complete packages for financial consolidation and reporting, clinical trials analysis, oil and gas analysis and IT service management. Currently, SAS software and business solutions are being used at more than 31,000 business, government, and university sites in more than 120 countries. SAS software is client/server and Web enabled.

The SAS acronym originally stood for Statistical Analysis System, now it is the SAS System and includes software components on data management, statistics, graphics, report-writing, economics, modeling, etc., called SAS Components, with names like Base SAS, SAS/STAT, SAS/GRAPH, SAS/ETS, etc.. Currently, there's a new SAS component named 'SAS/IntrNet^TM' for applications via Internet.

Each SAS component is comprised of a bundle of SAS procedures which can be used within an SAS program to compute and analyze own data. A programming development environment is also included within the SAS System (Base component, Macro Facility, Screen Control Language). The SAS System is available in any computing environment.

The SAS System is available now in version 6.12 (e.g. for Windows 3.11, Windows 95, Windows NT Workstation/Server). Version 7.0 is in preparation. The SAS System comes from SAS Institute Cary, North Carolina, USA which has its European headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany.

The installed SAS System must be renewed annually. The SETINIT procedure is to apply with valid setinit information. The local SAS site representative dispenses valid setinit information. In the future, it will be an option to license the SAS System on the Web.

  - to run the SAS System
  - to run the SAS System version 6.12 for Windows ?

What's new in version 6.12 ?   There are Web Tools News,
and there is in beta: the Analyst Application.

      and more

SAS Institute Inc.