STEPCHKPT System Option

Specifies whether checkpoint-restart data for DATA and PROC steps is to be recorded for a batch program.
Valid in: Configuration file, SAS invocation
Category: Environment control: Error handling
PROC OPTIONS GROUP= ERRORHANDLING
Restriction: The STEPCHKPT system option can be specified only if the LABELCHKPT system option is not specified when SAS starts.
Requirement: This option can be used only in batch mode.
Note: This option can be restricted by a site administrator. For more information, see Restricted Options.
Syntax
Details
Comparisons
See Also

Syntax

STEPCHKPT | NOSTEPCHKPT

Syntax Description

STEPCHKPT
enables checkpoint mode, which specifies to record checkpoint-restart data for DATA and PROC steps.
NOSTEPCHKPT
disables checkpoint mode, which specifies not to record checkpoint-restart data. This is the default.

Details

Using the STEPCHKPT system option puts SAS in checkpoint mode for SAS programs that run in batch. Each time a DATA step or PROC step executes, SAS records data in a checkpoint-restart library. If a program terminates without completing, the program can be resubmitted. Execution begins with the step that was executing when the program terminated.
To ensure that the checkpoint-restart data is accurate, when you specify the STEPCHKPT option, also specify the ERRORCHECK STRICT option and set the ERRORABEND option so that SAS terminates for most errors.
Checkpoint mode is not valid for batch programs that contain the DM statement, which submits commands to SAS. If checkpoint mode is enabled and SAS encounters a DM statement, checkpoint mode is disabled and the checkpoint catalog entry is deleted.

Comparisons

The STEPCHKPT system option enables checkpoint mode for DATA and PROC steps in batch programs that terminate before completing. Execution resumes with the DATA or PROC step that was executing when the failure occurred.
The LABELCHKPT system option enables checkpoint mode for labeled code sections in batch programs that terminate before completing. Execution resumes at the labeled code section that was executing when the failure occurred.

See Also

Checkpoint Mode and Restart Mode in SAS Language Reference: Concepts
Statements:
CHECKPOINT EXECUTE_ALWAYS Statement in SAS Statements: Reference
System Options:
CHKPTCLEAN System Option
ERRORABEND System Option
ERRORCHECK= System Option
LABELCHKPT System Option
STEPCHKPTLIB= System Option
STEPRESTART System Option
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