Chapter 6: The DOCUMENT Procedure

Overview: DOCUMENT Procedure

Why Use the DOCUMENT Procedure?

When your output is in an ODS document, the DOCUMENT procedure enables you to rearrange, duplicate, or remove output from the results of a procedure or a database query. Also, you can generate output for one or more ODS destinations using the newly transformed output hierarchy file. Thus, the DOCUMENT procedure enables you to

• transform your report without having to rerun your analysis or repeat your database query.

• have more control over the structure of your output.

• display your output to any ODS output format without executing your SAS programs again.

• navigate the current file location and list entries.

• open and list ODS documents.

• manage output.

• store the ODS output objects in raw form. The output is kept in the original internal representation as a data component plus a table definition.

The DOCUMENT procedure is an interactive procedure that enables you to use ODS and global statements within the PROC DOCUMENT step.

Unlike other ODS destinations, the DOCUMENT destination has a graphical user interface (GUI) for performing tasks. However, you can also do the same tasks with batch statement syntax using the DOCUMENT procedure.

DOCUMENT Procedure Terminology

current	is the open document.
document
current path	is the location in the open document where you currently reside.
entry	is one or more links, output objects, files, or partitioned data sets.
graph segment	is a file type or output object that contains a graph. Graphs are created in some SAS procedures, including those in SAS/GRAPH. The graph output object is referenced as a GRSEG. See: For more information about GRSEG and SAS/GRAPH procedures, see SAS/GRAPH Reference, Volumes 1 and 2 .
path	is the route through a hierarchal file system, leading to a particular file or file location of an entry. path refers to the physical location of an entry.
replay	occurs when you generate your output again, in the same or different format, without rerunning your analyses or data queries.
root file location	is the top level of a file location in an ODS document. A root file location is not contained within another file location and does not have a name assigned. A root file location is similar to the root directory of a Windows operating environment.