Glossary

across variable

in the REPORT procedure, a variable whose formatted values each form a column in the report. If the variable does not have a format, then each unformatted value forms a column.

alphanumeric character

any of the following types of characters: alphabetic letters, numerals, and special characters or blanks. Most computer systems store strictly numeric data differently from alphanumeric or textual data.

analysis variable

a numeric variable that is used to calculate statistics or to display values. Usually an analysis variable contains quantitative or continuous values, but this is not required.

arithmetic expression

See SAS expression

array

in the SAS programming language, a temporary grouping of SAS variables that have the same data type, are arranged in a particular order, and are identified by an array name. The array exists only for the duration of the current DATA step.

array name

a name that is selected to identify a group of variables or temporary data elements. It must be a valid SAS name that is not the name of a variable in the same DATA step or SCL (SAS Component Language) program.

array reference

a reference to an element to be processed in an array.

assignment statement

a DATA step statement that evaluates an expression and stores the result in a variable.

attribute

See variable attribute

autocall facility

a feature of SAS that enables you to store the source statements that define a macro and to invoke the macro as needed, without having to include the definition in your program.

autoexec file

a file that contains SAS statements that are executed automatically when SAS is invoked. The autoexec file can be used to specify some of the SAS system options, as well as to assign librefs and filerefs to data sources that are used frequently.

automatic macro variable

a macro variable that is defined by SAS rather than by the user and that supplies information about the SAS session. For example, the SYSPROCESSID automatic macro variable contains the process ID of the current SAS process.

background processing

processing in which you cannot interact with the computer. Background sessions sometimes run somewhat slower than foreground sessions, because background sessions execute as processor time becomes available.

Base SAS

the core product that is part of SAS Foundation and is installed with every deployment of SAS software. Base SAS provides an information delivery system for accessing, managing, analyzing, and presenting data.

batch job

a unit of work that is submitted to an operating system for batch processing. For example, under UNIX, a batch job is a background process; under Windows, a batch job is a task; and under z/OS, a batch job is a set of JCL statements.

batch mode

a noninteractive method of running SAS programs by which a file (containing SAS statements along with any necessary operating system commands) is submitted to the batch queue of the operating environment for execution.

Boolean operator

another term for logical operator.

break

in the REPORT procedure, a section of the report that does one or more of the following: visually separates parts of the report; summarizes statistics and computed variables; displays text; displays values that have been calculated for a set of rows of the report; executes DATA step statements. You can create breaks when the value of a selected variable changes or at the beginning or end of a report.

break line

in the REPORT procedure, a line of a report that contains one or more of the following: characters that visually separate parts of the report; summaries of statistics and computed variables (called a summary line); text; values that have been calculated for a set of rows of the report.

break variable

in the REPORT procedure, a group variable or order variable that you select in order to specify the location of break lines. The REPORT procedure performs the actions that you specify for the break each time the value of the break variable changes.

BY group

a group of observations or rows that have the same value for a variable that is specified in a BY statement. If more than one variable is specified in a BY statement, then the BY group is a group of observations that have a unique combination of values for those variables.

BY group variable

See BY variable

BY value

the value of a BY variable.

BY variable

a variable that is named in a BY statement and whose values define groups of observations to process.

BY-group processing

the process of using the BY statement to process observations that are ordered, grouped, or indexed according to the values of one or more variables. Many SAS procedures and the DATA step support BY-group processing. For example, you can use BY-group processing with the PRINT procedure to print separate reports for different groups of observations in a single SAS data set.

CALL routine

a component of the SAS programming language that changes the values of variables or performs other system operations. CALL routines are similar to functions except that you cannot use CALL routines in assignment statements. All SAS CALL routines are invoked with CALL statements. That is, the name of the routine must follow the keyword CALL in the CALL statement.

carriage-control character

a symbol that tells a printer how many lines to advance the paper, when to begin a new page, when to skip a line, and when to hold the current line for overprinting.

catalog

See SAS catalog

catalog directory

a part of a SAS catalog that stores and maintains information about the name, type, description, and update status of each member of the catalog.

catalog entry

See SAS catalog entry

category

in the TABULATE procedure, the combination of unique values of class variables. The TABULATE procedure creates a separate category for each unique combination of values that exists in the observations of the data set. Each category that PROC TABULATE creates is represented by one or more cells in the table where the pages, rows, and columns that describe the category intersect.

character constant

a character string that is enclosed in quotation marks in a SAS statement to indicate a fixed value rather than the name of a variable. The maximum number of characters that is allowed is 32,767. Character constants are sometimes referred to as character literals.

character format

a set of instructions that tell SAS to use a specific pattern for writing character data values.

character function

a type of function that enables you to manipulate, compare, evaluate, or analyze character strings.

character informat

a set of instructions that tell SAS to use a specific pattern for reading character data values into character variables.

character literal

another term for character constant.

character string

one or more consecutive alphanumeric characters, other keyboard characters, or both.

character value

a value that can contain alphabetic characters, the numeric characters 0 through 9, and other special characters.

character variable

a variable whose values can consist of alphabetic characters and special characters as well as numeric characters.

chart

a graph in which elements, such as bars or pie slices, represent a view of the data.

chart statistic

the statistical value calculated for the chart variable: frequency, cumulative frequency, percentage, cumulative percentage, sum, or mean.

chart variable

a variable in the input data set whose values are categories of data represented by bars, blocks, slices, or spines.

class variable

See classification variable

classification variable

a variable whose values are used to classify the observations in a data set into different groups that are meaningful for analysis. A classification variable can have either character or numeric values. Classification variables include group, subgroup, category, and BY variables.

column input

in the DATA step, a style of input in which column numbers are included in the INPUT statement to tell SAS which columns contain the values for each variable. This style of input is useful when the values for each variable are in the same location in all records.

command

a directive to an operating system to perform a particular task.

comment

See comment statement

comment statement

information that is embedded in a SAS program and that serves as explanatory text. SAS ignores comments during processing but writes them to the SAS log. Comment syntax has several forms. For example, a comment can appear as a statement that begins with an asterisk and ends with a semicolon, as in * message ;.

comparison operator

in programming languages, a symbol or mnemonic code that is used in expressions to test for a particular relationship between two values or text strings. For example, the symbol < and its corresponding mnemonic, LT, are used to determine whether one value is less than another.

compilation

See program compilation

composite index

an index that locates observations in a SAS data set by examining the values of two or more key variables.

compound expression

an expression that contains more than one operator.

computed variable

a variable whose value is calculated. For example, in the REPORT procedure, the value is calculated from statements that are entered in the COMPUTE window.

concatenate

to join the contents of two or more elements, end to end, forming a separate element. Examples of elements are character values, tables, external files, SAS data sets, and SAS libraries.

condition

in a SAS program, one or more numeric or character expressions that result in a value on which some decision depends.

configuration file

an external file containing the SAS system options that define the environment in which to run SAS. These system options take effect each time you invoke SAS.

configuration option

a SAS system option that can be specified in the SAS command or in a configuration file. Configuration options affect how SAS interacts with the computer hardware and operating system.

constant

in SAS software, a number or a character string that indicates a fixed value.

constant text

the character strings that are stored as part of a macro or as a macro variable's value in open code, from which the macro processor generates text to be used as SAS statements, display manager commands, or other macro program statements. Constant text is also called model text.

crossing

in the TABULATE procedure, the process that combines the effects of two or more elements.

data error

a type of execution error that occurs when a SAS program analyzes data that contains invalid values. For example, a data error occurs if you specify numeric variables in the INPUT statement for character data. SAS reports these errors in the SAS log but continues to execute the program.

data lines

lines of unprocessed (raw) data.

data set

See SAS data set

data set label

in a SAS data set, a user-defined attribute of up to 200 characters that is used for documenting the SAS data set.

data set option

a SAS language element that specifies actions to apply to a particular SAS data set. For example, data set options enable you to rename variables, to select only observations for processing, to drop variables from processing, or to specify a password.

DATA step

in a SAS program, a group of statements that begins with a DATA statement and that ends with either a RUN statement, another DATA statement, a PROC statement, or the end of the job. The DATA step enables you to read raw data or other SAS data sets and to create SAS data sets.

data value

a unit of character, numeric, or alphanumeric information that is stored as a single item in a data record.

data view

See SAS data view

date and time format

instructions that tell SAS how to write numeric values as dates, times, and datetimes.

date and time informat

the instructions that tell SAS how to read numeric values that are represented as dates, times, and datetimes.

date constant

See SAS date constant

date value

See SAS date value

datetime constant

See SAS datetime constant

datetime value

See SAS datetime value

declarative statement

a statement that supplies information to SAS and that takes effect when the system compiles program statements.

default directory

the directory that you are working in at any given time. When you log in, your default directory is usually your home directory.

delimiter

a character that serves as a boundary that separates the elements of a text string.

descriptor information

information about the contents and attributes of a SAS data set. For example, the descriptor information includes the data types and lengths of the variables, as well as which engine was used to create the data. SAS creates and maintains descriptor information within every SAS data set.

destination

See ODS destination

detail row

in the REPORT procedure, a row of a report that contains information from a single observation in the data set or which consolidates the information for a group of observations that have a unique combination of values for all group variables.

dimension

See table dimension

dimension expression

in the TABULATE procedure, the portion of the TABLE statement that defines the content and arrangement of the rows, columns, or pages of the table.

DO group

a sequence of statements that starts with a simple DO statement and that ends with a corresponding END statement.

DO loop

a sequence of statements that starts with an iterative DO, DO WHILE, or DO UNTIL statement and that ends with a corresponding END statement. The statements are executed (usually repeatedly) according to directions that are specified in the DO statement.

double trailing at sign

a special symbol @@ that is used to hold a line of data in the input buffer during multiple iterations of a DATA step.

entry type

a characteristic of a SAS catalog entry that identifies the catalog entry's structure and attributes to SAS. When you create a SAS catalog entry, SAS automatically assigns the entry type as part of the name.

error message

a message in the SAS log or Message window that indicates that SAS was not able to continue processing the program.

executable statement

in the DATA step, a SAS statement that causes some action to occur while the DATA step executes rather than when SAS compiles the DATA step.

explicit array

in the DATA step, an array that consists of a valid SAS name, a reference to the number of variables or temporary data elements, and an optional list of the array elements. When referring to an element of an explicit array, you must specify the array element's subscript.

explicit array reference

a description of the element to be processed in an explicit array.

exponent

in a mathematical expression, the number or expression that indicates the power to which you raise a base number or expression. For example, the exponent is 4 in the following expression: .1234 * 10 raised to the fourth power.

external file

a file that is created and maintained by a host operating system or by another vendor's software application. An external file can read both data and stored SAS statements.

file reference

See fileref

file specification

the name of an external file. This name is the name by which the host operating environment recognizes the file. On directory-based systems, the file specification can be either the complete pathname or the relative pathname from the current working directory.

fileref

a name that is temporarily assigned to an external file or to an aggregate storage location such as a directory or a folder. The fileref identifies the file or the storage location to SAS.

FIRST. variable

a temporary variable that SAS creates to identify the first observation of each BY group. The variable is not added to the SAS data set.

format

See SAS format

format modifier

a special symbol that is used in the INPUT and PUT statements and which enables you to control how SAS reads input data and writes output data.

formatted input

a style of input that uses special instructions called informats in the INPUT statement to determine how values that are entered in data fields should be interpreted.

formatted output

a style of output that uses SAS formats in the PUT statement to specify how to write the values of variables.

function

See SAS function

global macro variable

a macro variable that can be referenced in either global or local scope in a SAS program, except where there is a local macro variable that has the same name. A global macro variable exists until the end of the session or program.

header routine

a group of DATA step statements that produces page headers in print files. A header routine begins with a statement label and ends with a RETURN statement. You identify with the HEADER= option in the FILE statement.

host

See host operating environment

host operating environment

the operating environment (computer, operating system, and other software and hardware) that is identified by an IP address or by a domain name and that provides centralized control for software applications.

index

a component of a SAS data set that enables SAS to access observations in the SAS data set quickly and efficiently. The purpose of SAS indexes is to optimize WHERE-clause processing and to facilitate BY-group processing.

informat

See SAS informat

input buffer

a temporary area of memory into which each record of data is read when the INPUT statement executes.

inset table

a table of statistical values that is placed in or beside a plot that is produced in graphics mode. In process capability analysis, the statistics can include capability indices, specification limits, goodness-of-fit statistics, curve parameters, descriptive statistics, and quantiles.

interactive line mode

a method of running SAS programs in which you enter one line of a SAS program at a time at the SAS session prompt. SAS processes each line immediately after you press the ENTER or RETURN key. Procedure output and informative messages are returned directly to your display device.

interleaving

a process in which SAS combines two or more sorted SAS data sets into one sorted SAS data set based on the values of the BY variables.

keyword

See SAS keyword

label

descriptive text associated with a variable. By default, this text is the name of a variable or of a label previously assigned with the LABEL= option.

LAST. variable

a temporary variable that SAS creates to identify the last observation of each BY group. This variable is not added to the SAS data set.

library reference

See libref

libref

a SAS name that is associated with the location of a SAS library. For example, in the name MYLIB.MYFILE, MYLIB is the libref, and MYFILE is a file in the SAS library.

line mode

See interactive line mode

line-hold specifier

a special symbol used in INPUT and PUT statements that enables you to hold a record in the input or output buffer for further processing. Line-hold specifiers include the trailing at sign (@) and the double trailing at sign (@@).

list input

a style of input in which names of variables, not column locations, are specified in the INPUT statement. List input scans input records for data values that are separated by at least one blank or by some other delimiter.

list output

a style of output in which character strings or variables are specified in a PUT statement without explicit directions that specify where SAS should place the strings or values.

literal

a number or a character string that indicates a fixed value.

log

See SAS log

logical operator

an operator that is used in expressions to link sequences of comparisons. The logical operators are AND, OR, and NOT.

macro facility

a component of Base SAS software that you can use for extending and customizing SAS programs and for reducing the amount of text that must be entered in order to perform common tasks. The macro facility consists of the macro processor and the macro programming language.

macro invocation

another term for macro call.

macro language

the programming language that is used to communicate with the macro processor.

macro variable

a variable that is part of the SAS macro programming language. The value of a macro variable is a string that remains constant until you change it. Macro variables are sometimes referred to as symbolic variables.

macro variable reference

the name of a macro variable, preceded by an ampersand (&name). The macro processor replaces the macro variable reference with the value of the specified macro variable.

master data set

in an update operation, the data set that contains the information that you want to update.

match-merging

a process in which SAS joins observations from two or more SAS data sets according to the values of the BY variables.

member type

a SAS name that identifies the type of information that is stored in a SAS file. Member types include ACCESS, AUDIT, DMBD, DATA, CATALOG, FDB, INDEX, ITEMSTOR, MDDB, PROGRAM, UTILITY, and VIEW.

merging

the process of combining observations from two or more SAS data sets into a single observation in a new SAS data set.

missing value

a type of value for a variable that contains no data for a particular row or column. By default, SAS writes a missing numeric value as a single period and a missing character value as a blank space.

mnemonic operator

an arithmetic or logical (Boolean) operator that consists of letters rather than symbols (for example, EQ rather than =).

modified list input

a style of input that uses special instructions called informats and format modifiers in the INPUT statement. Modified list input scans input records for data values that are separated by at least one blank (or by some other delimiter), or in some cases, by multiple blanks.

multi-panel report

output that uses sets of columns on a page to display the values of variables. For example, telephone books are usually arranged in multiple panels of names, addresses, and telephone numbers on a single page.

named input

a style in which equal signs appear in the INPUT statement to read data values in the form variable=data-value.

named output

a style in which equal signs appear in the PUT statement to write variable values in the form variable=data-value.

noninteractive mode

a method of running SAS programs in which you prepare a file of SAS statements and submit the program to the operating system. The program runs immediately and comprises your current session.

noninteractive processing

See noninteractive mode

null statement

a statement that consists of a single semicolon or four semicolons. The null statement is most commonly used to designate the end of instream data in a DATA step.

null value

a special value that indicates the absence of information. Null values are analogous to SAS missing values.

numeric constant

a number that appears in a SAS expression.

numeric format

a set of instructions that tell SAS to use a specific pattern for writing the values of numeric variables.

numeric informat

a set of instructions that tell SAS to use a specific pattern for reading numeric data values.

numeric value

a value that usually contains only numbers, which can include numbers in E-notation and hexadecimal notation. A numeric value can sometimes contain a decimal point, a plus sign, or a minus sign. Numeric values are stored in numeric variables.

numeric variable

a variable that contains only numeric values and related symbols, such as decimal points, plus signs, and minus signs.

observation

a row in a SAS data set. All of the data values in an observation are associated with a single entity such as a customer or a state. Each observation contains either one data value or a missing-value indicator for each variable.

observation number

a number that indicates the relative position of an observation in a SAS data set when you read the entire data set sequentially. This number is not stored internally.

ODS

See Output Delivery System

ODS destination

a designation that the Output Delivery System uses to generate a specific type of output. Types of ODS destinations include but are not limited to HTML, XML, listing, PostScript, RTF, and SAS data sets.

one-to-one matching

the process of combining observations from two or more data sets into one observation, using two or more SET statements to read observations independently from each data set.

one-to-one merging

the process of using the MERGE statement (without a BY statement) to combine observations from two or more data sets based on the observations' positions in the data sets.

output buffer

in the DATA step, the area of memory that a PUT statement writes to before it writes to a designated file or output device.

Output Delivery System

a component of SAS software that can produce output in a variety of formats such as markup languages (HTML, XML), PDF, listing, RTF, PostScript, and SAS data sets. Short form: ODS.

output object

a programming object that contains the data that is generated by a DATA step or a PROC step and which can also contain a table definition that provides information about how to format that data.

padding a value with blanks

in SAS software, a process in which the software adds blanks to the end of a character value that is shorter than the length of the variable.

PDV

See program data vector

permanent SAS data set

a SAS data set that is not deleted after the current program or interactive SAS session ends. Permanent SAS data sets are available for future SAS sessions.

permanent SAS file

a file in a SAS library that is not deleted when the SAS session or job terminates.

permanent SAS library

a SAS library that is not deleted when a SAS session ends, and which is therefore available to subsequent SAS sessions.

physical filename

the name that an operating system uses to identify a file.

pointer

in the DATA step, a programming tool that SAS uses to keep track of its position in the input or output buffer.

pointer control

the process of instructing SAS to move the pointer before reading or writing data.

print file

an external file that contains carriage-control (printer-control) information.

procedure

See SAS procedure

Profile catalog

See Sasuser.Profile catalog

program compilation

the process of checking syntax and translating a portion of a program into a form that the computer can execute.

program data vector

the temporary area of computer memory in which SAS builds a SAS data set, one observation at a time. The program data vector is a logical concept and does not necessarily correspond to a single contiguous area of memory. Short form: PDV.

programming error

a flaw in the logic of a SAS program that can cause the program to fail or to perform differently than the programmer intended.

propagation of missing values

a consequence of using missing values in which a missing value in an arithmetic expression causes SAS to set the result of the expression to missing. Using that result in another expression causes the next result to be missing, and so on.

raw data

in statistical analysis, data (including data in SAS data sets) that has not had a particular operation, such as standardization, performed on it.

raw data file

an external file whose records contain data values in fields. A DATA step can read a raw data file by using the INFILE and INPUT statements.

SAS catalog

a SAS file that stores many different kinds of information in smaller units called catalog entries. A single SAS catalog can contain different types of catalog entries.

SAS catalog entry

an individual storage unit within a SAS catalog. Each entry has an entry type that identifies its purpose to SAS.

SAS command

a command that invokes SAS. This command can vary depending on the operating environment and site.

SAS compilation

the process of converting statements in the SAS language from the form in which you enter them to a form that is ready for SAS to use.

SAS data file

a type of SAS data set that contains data values as well as descriptor information that is associated with the data. The descriptor information includes information such as the data types and lengths of the variables, as well as the name of the engine that was used to create the data.

SAS data set

a file whose contents are in one of the native SAS file formats. There are two types of SAS data sets: SAS data files and SAS data views.

SAS data set option

an option that appears in parentheses after a SAS data set name. Data set options specify actions that apply only to the processing of that SAS data set.

SAS data view

a type of SAS data set that retrieves data values from other files. A SAS data view contains only descriptor information such as the data types and lengths of the variables (columns) plus other information that is required for retrieving data values from other SAS data sets or from files that are stored in other software vendors' file formats. Short form: data view.

SAS date constant

a string in the form 'ddMMMyy'd or 'ddMMMyyyy'd that represents a date in a SAS statement. The string is enclosed in quotation marks and is followed by the character d (for example, '6JUL01'd, '06JUL01'd, '6 JUL2001'd, or '06JUL2001'd).

SAS date value

an integer that represents a date in SAS software. The integer represents the number of days between January 1, 1960, and another specified date. For example, the SAS date value 366 represents the calendar date January 1, 1961.

SAS datetime constant

a string in the form 'ddMMMyy:hh:mm:ss'dt or 'ddMMMyyyy:hh:mm:ss'dt that represents a date and time in SAS. The string is enclosed in quotation marks and is followed by the characters dt (for example, '06JUL2001:09:53:22'dt).

SAS datetime value

an integer that represents a date and a time in SAS software. The integer represents the number of seconds between midnight, January 1, 1960, and another specified date and time. For example, the SAS datetime value for 9:30 a.m., June 5, 2000, is 1275816600.

SAS expression

a type of macro expression consisting of a sequence of operands and arithmetic operators that form a set of instructions that are evaluated to produce a numeric value, a character value, or a Boolean value. Examples of operands are constants and system functions. SAS uses arithmetic expressions in program statements to create variables, to assign values, to calculate new values, to transform variables, and to perform conditional processing.

SAS file

a specially structured file that is created, organized, and maintained by SAS. A SAS file can be a SAS data set, a catalog, a stored program, an access descriptor, a utility file, a multidimensional database file, a financial database file, a data mining database file, or an item store file.

SAS format

a type of SAS language element that applies a pattern to or executes instructions for a data value to be displayed or written as output. Types of formats correspond to the data's type: numeric, character, date, time, or timestamp. The ability to create user-defined formats is also supported. Examples of SAS formats are BINARY and DATE. Short form: format.

SAS function

a type of SAS language element that can be used in an expression or assignment statement to process zero or more arguments and to return a value. Examples of SAS functions are MEAN and SUM. Short form: function.

SAS informat

a type of SAS language element that applies a pattern to or executes instructions for a data value to be read as input. Types of informats correspond to the data's type: numeric, character, date, time, or timestamp. The ability to create user-defined informats is also supported. Examples of SAS informats are BINARY and DATE. Short form: informat.

SAS initialization

the process of setting global characteristics that must be in effect in order for a SAS session to begin. SAS performs initialization by setting certain SAS system options called initialization options. SAS initialization happens automatically when you invoke SAS.

SAS keyword

a literal that is a primary part of the SAS language. For example, SAS keywords include DATA, PROC, RUN, names of SAS language elements, names of SAS statement options, and system variables.

SAS language

a programming language that includes procedures for data analysis and reporting, statements and functions for managing SAS files and manipulating data, options that define the SAS environment, a macro facility, Help menus, and a windowing environment for text editing and file management.

SAS log

a file that contains a record of the SAS statements that you enter, as well as messages about the execution of your program.

SAS name

a name that is assigned to items such as SAS variables and SAS data sets. For most SAS names, the first character must be a letter or an underscore. Subsequent characters can be letters, numbers, or underscores. Blanks and special characters (except the underscore) are not allowed. However, the VALIDVARNAME= system option determines what rules apply to SAS variable names. The maximum length of a SAS name depends on the language element that it is assigned to.

SAS procedure

a program that provides specific functionality and that is accessed with a PROC statement. For example, SAS procedures can be used to produce reports, to manage files, or to analyze data. Many procedures are included in SAS software.

SAS program

a group of SAS statements that guide SAS through a process or series of processes in order to read and transform input data and to generate output. The DATA step and the procedure step, used alone or in combination, form the basis of SAS programs.

SAS session

the activity between invoking and exiting a specific SAS software product.

SAS statement

a string of SAS keywords, SAS names, and special characters and operators that instructs SAS to perform an operation or that gives information to SAS. Each SAS statement ends with a semicolon.

SAS system option

an option that affects the processing of an entire SAS program or interactive SAS session from the time the option is specified until it is changed. Examples of items that are controlled by SAS system options include the appearance of SAS output, the handling of some files that are used by SAS, the use of system variables, the processing of observations in SAS data sets, features of SAS initialization, and the way SAS interacts with your host operating environment.

SAS time constant

a string in the form 'hh:mm:ss't that represents a time in a SAS statement. The string is enclosed in quotation marks and is followed by the character t (for example, '09:53:22't).

SAS time value

an integer that represents a time in SAS software. The integer represents the number of seconds between midnight of the current day and another specified time value. For example, the SAS time value for 9:30 a.m. is 34200.

SAS variable

a column in a SAS data set or in a SAS data view. The data values for each variable describe a single characteristic for all observations (rows).

Sasuser library

a default, permanent SAS library that is created at the beginning of your first SAS session. The Sasuser library contains a PROFILE catalog that stores the customized features or settings that you specify for SAS.

Sasuser.Profile catalog

a SAS catalog in which SAS stores information about attributes of the SAS windowing environment for a particular user or site. It contains function-key definitions, fonts for graphics applications, window attributes, and other information that is used by interactive SAS procedures.

simple expression

a SAS expression that uses only one operator.

simple index

an index that uses the values of only one variable to locate observations.

site number

the number that SAS uses to identify the company or organization to which SAS software is licensed. The site number appears near the top of the log in every SAS session.

split character

in some SAS procedures, a character that splits headers across multiple lines. If you use the split character in a column header, the procedure breaks the header when it reaches that character and continues the header on the next line. The split character itself is not part of the column header.

standard data

data in which each digit or character occupies one byte of storage.

statement

See SAS statement

statement label

a SAS name followed by a colon that prefixes a statement in a DATA step so that other statements can direct execution to that statement as necessary, bypassing other statements in the step.

statement option

a word that you specify in a particular SAS statement and which affects only the processing that that statement performs.

step boundary

a point in a SAS program when SAS recognizes that a DATA step or PROC step is complete.

string

See character string

sum statement

a DATA step statement that adds the result of the expression on the right side of the plus sign to the accumulator variable on the left side of the plus sign. A sum statement has the following form: variable+expression;

summary table

output that provides a concise overview of the information in a data set.

syntax checking

the process by which SAS checks each SAS statement for proper usage, correct spelling, proper SAS naming conventions, and so on.

syntax error

an error in the spelling or grammar of a SAS statement. SAS finds syntax errors as it compiles each SAS step before execution.

system option

See SAS system option

table definition

a set of instructions that describe how to format output in the Output Delivery System (ODS).

table dimension

one of the basic elements of a table, such as a page, column, or row.

temporary SAS data set

a data set that exists only for the duration of the current program or interactive SAS session. Temporary SAS data sets are not available for future SAS sessions.

temporary SAS file

a SAS file in a SAS library (usually the Work library) that is deleted at the end of the SAS session or job.

temporary SAS library

a library that exists only for the current SAS session or job. The most common temporary library is the Work library.

text string

See character string

text-editing command

a command that is used with a particular text editor.

time constant

See SAS time constant

time value

See SAS time value

title

a heading that is printed at the top of each page of SAS output or of the SAS log.

trailing at sign

a special symbol @ that is used to hold a line of input or output so that SAS can read from it or write to it in a subsequent INPUT or PUT statement.

transaction data set

in an update operation, the data set that contains the information that is needed in order to update the master data set.

updating

a process in which SAS replaces the values of variables in the master data set with values from observations in the transaction data set.

user-defined format

a format that you define with the FORMAT procedure or with C, PL/I, FORTRAN, or IBM 370 assembler language using SAS/TOOLKIT software.

user-defined informat

an informat that you define with the FORMAT procedure or with C, PL/I, FORTRAN, or IBM 370 assembler language using SAS/TOOLKIT software.

variable

See SAS variable

variable attribute

any of the following characteristics that are associated with a particular variable: name, label, format, informat, data type, and length.

variable type

the classification of a variable as either numeric or character. Type is an attribute of SAS variables.

WHERE expression

defines the criteria for selecting observations.

WHERE processing

a method of conditionally selecting rows for processing by using a WHERE expression.

Work library

a temporary SAS library that is automatically defined by SAS at the beginning of each SAS session or SAS job. Unless you have specified a User library, any newly created SAS file that has a one- level name will be placed in the Work library by default and will be deleted at the end of the current SAS session or job.