The dataset browser is invoked from various widgets in the parameter dialog, to allow the selection of datasets and their component tables, columns and arrays. (see Fig. 3). The browser can also be invoked from the `File' menu or tool-bar, simply to inspect data, without making a selection.
The left pane of the browser window shows a hierarchical view of the
file system, extending from the root directory, through datasets
to their component tables, arrays and columns. Items in the hierarchical
view can be expanded by clicking in their `Name' column. A 
sign shows
whether an item is collapsed or expanded. The browser does
not display ordinary (non-FITS) files, to avoid unnecessary clutter.
Clicking on an item in the `Type' or `Data' column will cause it to be highlighted, as indicated by a rectangle around the name. The right pane shows information on the highlighted item.
The right pane and the attribute page of the left pane are arranged in columns. The columns may be sorted in various ways, by clicking on the appropriate column heading. The panes can be resized with the small handle on the the divider line, which separates them.
Double-clicking on a data item (column or array) will divide the right pane in two showing further information. For a column, this is a scrolling view of the values; for an array, it currently just shows the size of the array.
When the browser is invoked from a parameter dialog, the `Select' column will show the items which may be selected. For example, a `Column' parameter allows a column to be selected by clicking in the `Select' column. A circle indicates that only one item may be selected, as with a `radio button'; selecting one item deselects the others. A square indicates that multiple selection is possible, as with check-boxes; this is used for list parameter types (e.g. column-list). A `...' in the `Select' column indicates that a selected item is not visible because its container is collapsed.
When the browser is invoked from a parameter dialog, it returns the selected items as the parameter value, when the `Ok' button is pressed. The `Absolute path' check-box determines whether the parameter is specified using an absolute file path or a path relative to the current directory (in which the SAS was started). The `Cancel' button may be used to close the browser without changing the previous parameter value.
The browser may also be invoked from the `File' menu or tool-bar, simply to examine data without making a selection. In this case, the `Cancel' button and `Absolute path' check-box are not displayed, since they are not relevant.
At the top of the browser window are four buttons which can be used to quickly locate some commonly used directories. These are the user's home directory, the ODF directory, the CCF directory, and the current working directory from which the SAS GUI was started. Then next button to the right is useful when selecting parameters for a task. Pressing this button will show or hide a window, that lists all currently selected entries.
The (non-editable) pull-down menu allows to quickly jump to a previous visited item. After the button to jump to a higher level (e.g. parent directory) from SAS 6.0 on a new button is found for refreshing the contents. This allows to see new files created during the session.
