Specify the symbols that reference three macro variables. The NMVAR statement defines three symbols that reference macro variables. ODS will convert the variable's values to numbers (stored as doubles) before using them. References to the macro variables are resolved when ODS binds the template and the data component to produce an output object. The text inside quotation marks provides information about the symbols. This information becomes a part of the compiled table template whereas SAS comments do not.

LOW, MEDIUM, and HIGH will contain the values to use as the determinants of the style element that displays the cell. The values are provided just before the DATA step that produces the report.

  nmvar low "Use default style."
        medium "Use yellow foreground color and bold font weight"
        high "Use red foreground color and a bold, italic font.";