The DOCUMENT Procedure

Overview: DOCUMENT Procedure

In ODS documents, 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 do the following:

transform a report without rerunning an analysis or repeating a database query
have more control over the structure of output
display output to any ODS output format without executing 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

Note: The output is kept in the original internal representation as a data component plus a table template.

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 perform the same tasks with batch statement syntax using the DOCUMENT procedure. For a comparison of the Documents window and the DOCUMENT procedure, see Comparisons between the Documents Window and the Results Window.

DOCUMENT Procedure Terminology

current document

is the open document.

current path

is your current location in the open document. The '^' symbol represents the current path.

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.

ODS document

is the hierarchy of output objects that are created by the DOCUMENT procedure. These objects are unformatted and are placed in a SAS item store.

path

is the route through a hierarchal file system, leading to a particular file or file location of an entry within an ODS document. path refers to the physical location of an entry. The '^' symbol represents the current path and the '^^' symbol represents the parent path.

replay

is the regeneration of output, in the same or different format, without rerunning 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 it does not have a name assigned. A root file location is similar to the root directory of a Windows operating environment.

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