X Statement

Issues an operating-environment command from within a SAS session

Valid: anywhere

Category: Operating Environment

See: X Statement in the documentation for your operating environment.

Syntax

X < operating-environment-command >;

Without Arguments

Using X without arguments places you in your operating environment, where you can issue commands that are specific to your environment.

Arguments

operating-environment-command

• specifies an operating environment command that is enclosed in quotation marks.

Details

In all operating environments, you can use the X statement when you run SAS in windowing or interactive line mode. In some operating environments, you can use the X statement when you run SAS in batch or noninteractive mode.

Operating Environment Information: The X statement is dependent on your operating environment. See the SAS documentation for your operating environment to determine whether it is a valid statement on your system. Keep in mind:

• The way you return from operating environment mode to the SAS session is dependent on your operating environment.

• The commands that you use with the X statement are specific to your operating environment.

You can use the X statement with SAS macros to write a SAS program that can run in multiple operating environments. See SAS Macro Language: Reference for information.

Comparisons

In a windowing session, the X command works exactly like the X statement except that you issue the command from a command line. You submit the X statement from the Program Editor window.

The X statement is similar to the SYSTEM function, the X command, and the CALL SYSTEM routine. In most cases, the X statement, X command or %SYSEXEC macro statement are preferable because they require less overhead. However, the SYSTEM function can be executed conditionally. The X statement is a global statement and executes as a DATA step is being compiled.

See Also

CALL Routine:

• CALL SYSTEM Routine on page 406

Function:

• SYSTEM Function on page 852