The SAS user is assumed to be familiar with the basic characteristics and operation modes of the scientific instruments on board XMM-Newton. This information is available in the XMM-Newton Users Handbook [1] at:
http://xmm.esac.esa.int/external/xmm_user_support/documentation/
Another important document that can be found in the same URL address is the XMM-Newton Data File Handbook [8] which provides a detailed description of the data distributed to the users from the XMM-Newton Archive (XSA, at http://xmm.esac.esa.int/xsa) [2]. This handbook has information on the format, structure and content of individual XMM-Newton files.
The Calibration Access and Data Handbook [3] describes the calibration files and the calibration access routines which are used by SAS to access these files. The document is accessible from the XMM-Newton calibration web portal at:
http://xmm.esac.esa.int/external/xmm_sw_cal/calib/
Detailed descriptions of individual SAS tasks can be accessed through the SAS on-line documentation web page at:
http://xmm.esac.esa.int/sas/current/doc/
or by clicking the ``Help Task'' button of the (main) SAS Graphical User Interface (GUI).
Some of the analysis process described here are also synthesized in the SAS threads at:
http://xmm.esac.esa.int/sas/current/documentation/threads/