Syntax Checking SAS Programs

To check the syntax of a data step or procedure without actually running the code, add a CANCEL keyword to the end of the RUN statement, as shown in the following example:

data work.test;

infile 'external file';

input a b c;

run cancel;

proc print data=work.test;

run cancel;

Each step will validate the "tokens" in your syntax and report any errors to the SAS log. SAS will then stop processing that step, therefore no data are read.

Commonly, a macro variable is created that is resolved in place of the CANCEL keyword. This allows a global method of turning syntax checking on or off. This is demonstrated with the following example:

%let debug=CANCEL;

%*let debug=;

data work.test;

infile 'external file';

input a b c;

run &debug.;

proc print data=work.test;

run &debug.;