X Statement

Issues an operating-environment command from within a SAS session.

Valid in:	Anywhere
Category:	Operating Environment
See:	X Statement under Windows, UNIX, or z/OS

Syntax

Details

Comparisons

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

X Statement

Syntax

Without Arguments

Arguments

Details

Comparisons

See Also