The CLASS statement specifies the variables whose values define subgroup combinations for the analysis. 
            The CLASS and VAR statements are mutually exclusive. 
            
               
               
                  
- 
                                      variable
                                      
                                    
- 
                        specifies a classification variable to be used in the analysis. For each level of a CLASS variable, the CLASSOUT data set
                           contains information about each of the following: the level value, its frequency, and the type of the variable (numeric or
                           character). 
                         
 
                
             
            
               
               
                  
- 
                                      order-option
                                      
                                    
- 
                        specifies the order to use when considering the levels of CLASS variables to be sorted. The value of order-option can be one of the following: 
                         
                           
- 
                                               ASCENDING | ASC
                                               
                                             
- 
                                 arranges class levels in lowest-to-highest order of unformatted values.  
- 
                                               DESCENDING | DESC
                                               
                                             
- 
                                 arranges class levels in highest-to-lowest order of unformatted values.  
- 
                                               ASCFORMATTED | ASCFMT
                                               
                                             
- 
                                 arranges class levels in ascending order by their formatted values.  
- 
                                               DESFORMATTED | DESFMT
                                               
                                             
- 
                                 arranges class levels in descending order by their formatted values.  
- 
                                               DSORDER | DATA
                                               
                                             
- 
                                 arranges class levels according to the order of their appearance in the input data set.  
 
   
                           Note: The DSORDER sort option is not supported for input data sets that are stored on the SAS appliance.