Commands That Are Not Specific to UNIX

MASK Command

Defines the contents of one or more new lines.

Category:

Text editing, line command

Syntax
Without Arguments
Details
See Also

Syntax

MASK

Without Arguments

The MASK command defines, displays, and enables you to edit the contents of one or more new lines that are created by the I command.

Details

The MASK command defines, displays, and enables you to edit the contents of one or more new lines that are created by the I command. The default setting for the new lines are blank lines. To display or edit a new line, type MASK in the number field of the line, and then press ENTER or RETURN. The line with the contents defined by the MASK command is inserted. You can then edit the line. A line with the contents defined by the MASK command is inserted each time you issue the I command.

The contents defined by the MASK command remain in effect for that window throughout your current SAS session unless you change them. To change the contents, type over the text. If you want to return to the default (a blank line), do one of the following tasks:

blank any characters in the text field of the MASK line.
issue the CLEAR command with MASK as an argument:
```
clear mask
```
The contents of the MASK line are cleared, and a note appears in the log indicating that the MASK line has been cleared.

You can use the RESET command or the D command to not display the contents of the MASK command. The MASK command remains in effect even when it is not displayed. For example, the MASK command remains in effect under the following conditions:
- when you scroll past the MASK line and it is not displayed
- when you issue the D or RESET command without blanking any characters in the text of the MASK line
In some windows, such as the Program Editor window, you can use the WSAVE command to permanently save the contents of the MASK command.