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When specifying styles to customize output created by ODS HTML, PRINTER (PCL/PDF/PS), or RTF, if an invalid value is specified for a STYLE attribute such as FONT_STYLE or JUST, the following error can result:

ERROR 79-322: Expecting a (.
ERROR 76-322: Syntax error, statement will be ignored.

The error is misleading as there are no missing parentheses. In the SAS Log, the element underlined indicating an error is to the right of the actual incorrect style specification.

In the example code on the Full Code tab, the BOLD value for FONT_STYLE is invalid. The error should read "ERROR: Expecting ITALIC/ROMAN/SLANT". BOLD is a valid value for FONT_WEIGHT. C, R, and L are valid values for the JUST= style element (Center, Right, Left).

A link to a table of valid style attributes and their values in SAS 9.2 is available here.

A link to this same table in the SAS Output Delivery System: User's Guide section of the SAS 9.1.3 Online Documentation can be found here.

Operating System and Release Information

data test;
  input x $ y $;
datalines;
a b
a b
w b
;

/* also occurs with: ods printer file='file.ps'; */
  ods html body='body.html';
  PROC TABULATE;
    class y x;
    table y, x * {s={background=burlywood foreground=darkblue
                    font_style=bold just=l}};
  /*  table y, x * {s={background=burlywood foreground=darkblue
                    font_weight=bold just=l}};   */
   run;

 PROC REPORT nowd
   style(column)=[background=burlywood foreground=darkblue
                  font_style=bold font_size=5 just=l];
 /* PROC REPORT nowd
   style(column)=[background=burlywood foreground=darkblue
                  font_weight=bold font_size=5 just=l];  */
 column  x y;
  define x / display;
  define y / display ;
  run;
 ods html close;