Introduction

Syntax Conventions

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

  • MODEL response <(response-options )> = <fixed-effects> </ model-options>;

  • CONTRAST 'label' contrast-specification <, …> = <fixed-effects> </ 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 two preceding examples, the statement names (MODEL and CONTRAST) are keywords. 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 MODEL statement indicates that response, response-options, fixed-effects, and model-options are arguments for which you can supply values. The values that you can supply are defined later in the description of the MODEL statement.

< >

(angle brackets) identify optional arguments. Arguments that are not enclosed in angle brackets are required. In the preceding MODEL statement, you must supply a value for response because it is not enclosed in angle brackets. However, supplying values for response-options, fixed-effects, and model-options is optional.

…

(ellipsis dots) indicate that the preceding argument can be repeated. Sometimes the argument is shown again for clarity. The "…" in the preceding CONTRAST statement indicate that you can supply additional contrast-specifications. The comma before the ellipsis dots indicates that each additional contrast-specification must be preceded by a comma.

'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 CONTRAST statement, straight quotes around label indicate that you must use quotation marks when you specify a label.

( )

(parentheses) indicate arguments that must be grouped together. In the preceding MODEL statement, you must type parentheses around the response-options. Some statements do not require parentheses when you specify only one value for the argument that is shown in parentheses; 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: December 09, 2022