Business Intelligence Interview Questions and Answers in 2025 (100+ Q&A)

Business Intelligence Database Analyst/ Programmer

Ques:- Is it possible to generate sas datasets using proc print ???

Asked In :- City Pride School, Datatonic, Edgematics, Real Time Data Services (P), Syniti, clsa, vitality uk, kpmg malta, isilumko staffing, analytix business solutions,

Right Answer:
No, it is not possible to generate SAS datasets using PROC PRINT. PROC PRINT is used for displaying data, not for creating datasets.

Business Intelligence Database Analyst/ Programmer

Ques:- In SAS how to read the variable values having different formats.eg:mar99,mar1999 (in a single variable)

Asked In :- Webskitters, PRGX Global, The Access Group (UK), Dunn Solutions, temenos, federal reserve bank of dallas, o9 solutions, inc., five rings capital, llc,

Right Answer:
In SAS, you can use the `INPUT` function with the appropriate informat to read variable values with different formats. For example:

```sas
data example;
input date_string $;
if length(date_string) = 5 then date_value = input(date_string, monyy5.);
else if length(date_string) = 7 then date_value = input(date_string, monyy7.);
format date_value monyy.;
datalines;
mar99
mar1999
;
run;
```

Business Intelligence Database Analyst/ Programmer

Ques:- CHOOSE ANY ONE OF THE PROCEDURE FOLLOWING TO GENERATE THE REPORTS? HOW CAN YOU SAY IT IS BETTER THAN THE OTHER?AND DEFERENCIATE THESE TWO ?1). REPORT PROCEDURE2). TABULATE PROCEDURE

Asked In :- Excelerate, Dillon Consulting, npa, zeotap, commercetools gmbh, crave infotech, tekion corp, infomaze technologies,

Right Answer:
I choose the Report Procedure to generate reports. It is better than the Tabulate Procedure because it allows for more customization and formatting options, making it suitable for complex reports. The Report Procedure focuses on presenting data in a structured format with headers, footers, and detailed layouts, while the Tabulate Procedure is more straightforward, primarily used for creating simple tables without extensive formatting.

Business Intelligence Database Architect/ Designer

Ques:- What do the SAS log messages “numeric values have beenconverted to character” mean?

Asked In :- Verticurl Marketing,

Right Answer:
The SAS log message "numeric values have been converted to character" means that SAS has automatically changed numeric data types to character data types during processing, usually due to a mismatch in data types in a dataset or operation.

Business Intelligence Database Analyst/ Programmer

Ques:- WHAT DIFFERRENCE DID YOU FIND AMONG VERSION 6 8 AND 9 OF SAS.

Asked In :- Dolat Capital, dnb, bairesdev, excelacom technologies, allzone management solutions, codeworks,

Right Answer:
The main differences among SAS versions 6, 8, and 9 include:

1. **Data Handling**: Version 9 introduced enhanced data handling capabilities, including support for larger datasets and improved data management features.
2. **Performance**: Version 9 offers better performance and efficiency, particularly with multi-threading and memory management.
3. **User Interface**: Version 9 has a more modern and user-friendly interface compared to versions 6 and 8.
4. **New Procedures and Functions**: Version 9 includes new procedures and functions that were not available in earlier versions, enhancing analytical capabilities.
5. **Integration**: Version 9 provides better integration with other software and technologies, including support for web-based applications and data sources.

Business Intelligence Database Analyst/ Programmer

Ques:- How to do user inputs and command line arguments in sas?

Asked In :- chick-fil-a-franchise, iress,

Right Answer:
In SAS, user inputs can be handled using the `INPUT` statement in a `DATA` step for reading data from external sources. For command line arguments, you can use the `SYSPARM` option when invoking SAS. For example, you can run SAS with `sas myprogram.sas -sysparm "myargument"` and then access the argument in your program using `SYSPARM`.

Business Intelligence Database Architect/ Designer

Ques:- What is the difference between informat$8. $char8.

Asked In :- US Defense Intelligence Agency, Provar, westjet, university of bedfordshire, federal reserve bank of dallas, vanquis bank, cdp, tranzact technologies inc., nrsp inc., cumulus systems,

Right Answer:
`informat$8.` is used to read character data with a specific format, while `$char8.` is used to define a character variable with a length of 8.

Business Intelligence Database Analyst/ Programmer

Ques:- What is option year cuttoff in sas

Asked In :- Rock Solid Solutions, Aranca (Mumbai), GoFrugal Technologies, Text Mercato, Think Analytics, Bega Cheese, Krishna Maruti Ltd, Smoothie King, elections ontario,

Right Answer:
In SAS, the option year cutoff refers to the specific point in time used to determine which data is included in the analysis, typically based on a defined fiscal or calendar year. It helps in segmenting data for reporting or analysis purposes, ensuring that only relevant data up to that cutoff date is considered.

Business Intelligence Database Analyst/ Programmer

Ques:- What is prime numbers? how we can get plc write sas code?

Asked In :- SAS Institute, Symphony Technologies, deakin university, digital asset, iro,

Right Answer:
Prime numbers are natural numbers greater than 1 that have no positive divisors other than 1 and themselves.

To write SAS code to get prime numbers, you can use the following code snippet:

```sas
data primes;
do num = 2 to 100; /* Change 100 to any upper limit */
is_prime = 1; /* Assume num is prime */
do i = 2 to sqrt(num);
if mod(num, i) = 0 then do;
is_prime = 0; /* num is not prime */
leave;
end;
end;
if is_prime then output;
end;
run;
```

This code generates prime numbers from 2 to a specified upper limit.

Business Intelligence Database Analyst/ Programmer

Ques:- How do we mail reports from SAS environment to our team leader

Asked In :- Tredence Analytics Solutions, Vector India, IDeaS - A SAS Company, Womble Bond Dickinson, TAO Solutions, Aggregate Intelligence, Allocator, cmc markets, fiera capital, zeotap,

Right Answer:
To mail reports from the SAS environment to your team leader, you can use the `FILENAME` statement to define an email address and the `PROC REPORT` or `ODS` statements to generate the report. Then, use the `DATA _NULL_` step with the `PUT` statement to send the email. Here’s a simple example:

```sas
filename mymail email 'teamleader@example.com' subject='Weekly Report';

data _null_;
file mymail;
put 'Hello Team Leader,';
put 'Please find the attached report.';
run;

ods html file='report.html';
proc report data=your_data;
/* Your report code here */
run;
ods html close;

filename mymail email 'teamleader@example.com' subject='Weekly Report' attach='report.html';
```

Make sure to replace `'your_data'` with your actual dataset name and adjust the email address as needed.

Business Intelligence Database Analyst/ Programmer

Ques:- How to get any kind of data in SAS? Is it possible to take data from notepad in SAS?

Asked In :- Mobisy, Essen Vision Software, Simpragma, Global Data Management, elsevier, westjet, arup laboratories, kyriba, alkami technology, devon partnership nhs trust,

Right Answer:
Yes, you can import data from a Notepad file into SAS using the `INFILE` statement along with the `DATA` step. For example:

```sas
data mydata;
infile 'path-to-your-file.txt';
input variable1 variable2 variable3;
run;
```

Business Intelligence Database Analyst/ Programmer

Ques:- How does SAS handle missing values in: assignmentstatements, functions, a merge, an update, sort order,formats, PROCs?

Asked In :- MedGenome Labs, Riversand Global Technologies, Gentrack, Astoria Solutions, royal free london nhs foundation trust, tp icap, social impact, merilytics inc.,

Right Answer:
SAS handles missing values as follows:

- **Assignment Statements**: Missing values remain missing; if a variable is assigned a missing value, it stays missing.
- **Functions**: Most functions return a missing value if any argument is missing (e.g., SUM, MEAN).
- **Merge**: When merging datasets, if a key variable is missing, the observation is not included in the merged dataset.
- **Update**: Missing values in the update dataset will overwrite existing values in the master dataset.
- **Sort Order**: Missing values are sorted first, appearing at the top of the sorted dataset.
- **Formats**: Missing values are displayed as a blank or a specific format defined for missing values.
- **PROCs**: Most PROC steps will treat missing values as a separate category, and they may affect calculations and results (e.g., in PROC MEANS, they are excluded from calculations).

Business Intelligence Database Analyst/ Programmer

Ques:- What are the new features included in the new version of SAS i.e., SAS9.1.3?

Asked In :- Tatvic Analytics, Jiva Ayurveda, Perceptive Analytics, First Insight, Clarivate, Washington DC Government, equifax, sirius computer solutions, mcap, datavail,

Right Answer:
SAS 9.1.3 introduced several new features, including enhanced data integration capabilities, improved support for web-based applications, new statistical procedures, better performance for large data sets, and enhanced tools for data visualization and reporting.

Business Intelligence Database Analyst/ Programmer

Ques:- What other SAS features do you use for error trappingand data validation?

Asked In :- OneOrigin, Coriolis Technologies, AXA XL, datorama, greyb, ontario teachers' pension plan, neerja modi school,

Right Answer:
In SAS, I use features like the DATA step with conditional statements (IF-THEN/ELSE), the OPTIONS statement for error handling (e.g., OPTIONS OBS=0), the PUTLOG statement for logging messages, and PROC SQL with the VALIDATE option for data validation. Additionally, I utilize the SAS macro facility for creating reusable error-checking code and PROC CONTENTS to validate dataset structures.

Business Intelligence Database Analyst/ Programmer

Ques:- How do you debug and test your SAS programs?

Asked In :- Insync Tech-Fin Solutions, Statista, ASSURANCE IQ, government of saskatchewan, asx, datorama, mouri tech, moneylion, socure,

Right Answer:
To debug and test SAS programs, I use the following methods:

1. **Log Review**: Check the SAS log for errors, warnings, and notes to identify issues.
2. **PUT Statements**: Insert PUT statements to display variable values at different points in the program.
3. **Data Step Debugger**: Utilize the interactive debugger to step through the code line by line.
4. **Test with Sample Data**: Run the program with a smaller subset of data to isolate problems.
5. **Macro Debugging**: Use options like MPRINT, MLOGIC, and SYMBOLGEN to debug macros.
6. **Unit Testing**: Create test cases for individual components to ensure they work as expected.

Business Intelligence Database Architect/ Designer

Ques:- What is portability of sas programmes?

Asked In :- Reflections Info Systems, Mirth Infratech, mcap, invenco group limited, ramco, accelalpha,

Right Answer:
Portability of SAS programs refers to the ability to run the same SAS code on different operating systems or environments without modification. This means that the code can be executed on various platforms, such as Windows, UNIX, or mainframes, while producing the same results.

Business Intelligence Database Architect/ Designer

Ques:- How do you control the number of observations and/orvariables read or written? Approximately what date is represented by the SAS date valueof 730?

Asked In :- Sanmina Corporation, CEIPAL SOLUTIONS PVT, Text Mercato, London Stock Exchange Group, FACEIT, ge digital, william hill, oag, frontier economics, innovacx,

Right Answer:
To control the number of observations and/or variables read or written in SAS, you can use the `OBS=` and `FIRSTOBS=` options in the `DATA` step or `PROC` step. The `OBS=` option limits the number of observations, while the `FIRSTOBS=` option specifies the starting observation to read.

The SAS date value of 730 represents the date February 1, 1992.

Business Intelligence Database Analyst/ Programmer

Ques:- What is the order of application for output data setoptions, input data set options and SAS statements?

Asked In :- SpringRole, DataWeave, Bizacuity Solutions, IFPRI, usda-nrcs, london stock exchange group (lseg), webuyanycar.com, labcorp diagnostic laboratories, teikametrics, npcl,

Right Answer:
The order of application is: input data set options, SAS statements, and then output data set options.

Business Intelligence Database Analyst/ Programmer

Ques:- In source system we have os – windowsBO – 5.1.5. with webi 2.7.1Repository database – oracleReports database – Oracle and DB2Nearly we have 1200 reports in present system , i want to move as it is to new hardwareos- windowsbo- 5.1.5 with webi2.7.1repository – oraclereports – oracle and db2let me know is there any migration techniques in same version. thanks in advanceUsha

Asked In :- verint, sienna senior living, aml rightsource, moneylion, jedox, scalable capital,

Right Answer:
Yes, you can use the following migration techniques to move your reports to the new hardware while keeping the same version:

1. **Backup and Restore**: Create a backup of the existing repository database and restore it on the new hardware.
2. **Export and Import**: Use the export functionality in Web Intelligence to export reports and then import them into the new environment.
3. **Database Migration Tools**: Utilize Oracle and DB2 migration tools to transfer the database schema and data.
4. **Configuration Files**: Ensure that configuration files are transferred and updated to reflect the new environment settings.

Make sure to test the migration in a staging environment before going live.

Business Intelligence Database Analyst/ Programmer

Ques:- How we can call macros with in data step?

Asked In :- PCS-Global, Peninsula, bny mellon, webhelp, sisense, spss, kensium solutions, gaininsights solutions, paisabazaar.com, cbss/visa vale,

Right Answer:
You can call macros within a data step in SAS by using the `%` sign followed by the macro name. For example, you can use `%macro_name;` to invoke the macro. If you need to pass parameters, you can do so by including them in parentheses, like `%macro_name(param1, param2);`.

The Business Intelligence category on takluu.com is crafted for professionals and aspirants preparing for roles that involve transforming raw data into meaningful insights. BI plays a crucial role in helping businesses analyze historical data, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions to improve performance.

This section covers key BI concepts such as data warehousing, ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) processes, data mining, OLAP (Online Analytical Processing), and dashboard development. It also explores popular BI tools like Power BI, Tableau, QlikView, and Microsoft SSRS, along with their applications in reporting and analytics.

Interview questions often test your knowledge of data modeling, KPI (Key Performance Indicators) definition, report creation, and real-time data processing. Candidates should be familiar with database querying using SQL and have an understanding of data governance and quality.

Preparing for roles such as BI Analyst, BI Developer, Data Analyst, or Data Engineer, this category offers comprehensive study materials, practical case studies, and scenario-based questions to enhance your problem-solving abilities and technical expertise.

At Takluu, we focus on combining theoretical knowledge with practical examples, enabling you to confidently tackle technical interviews and demonstrate your proficiency in BI concepts and tools.

Whether you are starting your BI career or looking to upskill, this category equips you with the necessary skills to turn data into actionable business insights.

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