Introduction

Syntax Conventions

Each procedure’s "Syntax" section follows the conventions that are described in this section. Consider the following statements:

  • CLASS variable <(options)> …<variable <(options)>> </ global-options>;

  • RANGE FROM from TO to;

  • <label:> TEST <'string'> equation1 <, equation2…> / test-options ;

These statements demonstrate the syntax conventions that are described in the following list:

UPPERCASE BOLD

is used for keywords in lists of SAS statements and options in "Syntax" sections. When you type a keyword in SAS code, you type it as shown (although any mix of uppercase and lowercase is valid). In the preceding examples, the statement names (CLASS, RANGE, and TEST) are keywords. In addition, the FROM and TO are required keywords in the RANGE statement. Note that keywords are displayed only in uppercase (not bold) when they are used in text.

oblique

is used in syntax definitions and in text to represent arguments for which you supply a value. The preceding CLASS statement indicates that variable, options, and global-options are arguments for which you can supply values. The values that you can supply are defined later in the description of the CLASS statement.

< >

(angle brackets) identify optional arguments. Arguments that are not enclosed in angle brackets are required. In the preceding CLASS statement, you must supply a value for one variable because the first variable is not enclosed in angle brackets. However, supplying values for additional variables, options, and global-options is optional.

…

(ellipsis dots) indicate that the preceding argument can be repeated. In the preceding CLASS statement, the "…" indicates that you can supply additional variables, (along with optional options). Sometimes the argument is shown again after the "…" to emphasize that it can be repeated.

'value'

(straight quotes around a value) indicate that the value must be enclosed in quotation marks (which can be single or double quotes). In the preceding TEST statement, straight quotes around string indicate that you must use quotation marks when you specify a string.

( )

(parentheses) indicate arguments that must be grouped together. In the preceding CLASS statement, you must type parentheses around the options in order to indicate which syntax elements are options and which are variables. Statements that do not require parentheses to indicate association sometimes allow you to omit the parentheses when you specify only one option; these cases are indicated in the statement description.

|

(vertical bar) indicates that you can choose one value from a group of values. Values that are separated by a vertical bar are mutually exclusive. A vertical bar indicates mutually exclusive values for an option or indicates aliases for an option name.

;

(semicolon) indicates the end of a statement.

Other special characters—such as an equal sign (=), tilde (tilde), colon (:), and slash (/)—indicate where in the syntax you must type those characters.

Last updated: June 19, 2025