<p>I voted to close the question the OP is referring to, and I think it is innapropriate for this forum. While people on this forum could potentially answer the question, I think it is more appropriate to refer people to expert bodies specializing in those particular software packages. People are not only more likely to get a quick response, but should search through old posts on those sites to see if the question they have has already been answered.</p>

<p>I fail to see how that question on importing data between different SAS products has anything to do with statistical analysis. If it wasn't SAS, and say a person was asking how to conduct a SQL query in Microsoft Access would the question be considered appropriate? The difference between that question and asking about visual studio on stack overflow is that statistical software has a broader range than statistical analysis, and that question falls squarely into what I would consider "data management". Although as Srikant points out this is an essential tool to conduct analysis, I feel it is far enough removed from anything resembling statistical interpretation that it dilutes what I believe the intentions of the sight are (to promote discussion and learning of statistics).</p>

<p>I would be alittle more sympathetic except for the fact that many of these software packages have user groups that individuals would be better addressing their questions towards (and searching their archives of past questions). I don't know for SAS, but if the software was SPSS I could refer the individual to several user groups where SPSS experts and even representatives of the software post responses to questions. I know Stata and R have similar listserves as well. Why should this site be redundant with these groups at the expense of this sites members time?</p>
