## SAS Custom Tags: Syntax Help

This reference page provides an explanation of the various conventions used topresent elements of syntax for SAS custom tags.

Each tag has its own entry in this collection. The tag name appears at the top of the page, followed by:

- a description of the tag and its purpose
- the appropriate form, or forms, of syntax
- if available, an example of the tag's usage
- an alphabetical list and description of all available tag attributes
- links to additional information about the tag or its function.

Just like other custom tags available with JavaServer Pages technology, SAS custom tags are based on XML. The following general rules are applicable to all SAS tags:

- Tags have either (1) a start tag with required and/or optional attributes, an optional body, and a matching end tag, or (2) an empty tag such as <sas:ListBox ... />.
- Attribute names are case-sensitive.
- All attribute values in the tags must be quoted using either single or double quotes. The special strings &apos; and &quot; can be used if quotes are a part of the attribute value itself.
- Any whitespace within the body of a tag is not significant.

### Syntax Conventions

In this tag reference, type styles and symbols have special meanings when they are used to present syntax. The following list explains these style conventions:

`sas:tagName` | identifies the SAS custom tag. Note that the prefix "sas" is used in the syntax. You should use the value of the prefix attribute that you specify in the <%@ taglib %> directive.
`[] (square brackets)` | indicates that the specified attribute/value pair is optional for this form of the tag.
`| (vertical bar)` | indicates that you can choose one value from a group. Values separated by bars are mutually exclusive.
`italics` | indicates that the attribute's value can be set via a run-time expression. The italicized text is the Java type for which the expression can be defined. (The default is java.lang.String).
`... (ellipsis)` | indicates that the valid attributes for the nested tag are detailed in the reference for that tag.

Also note that attribute descriptions with references to "output tags" are referring to the actual markup tags that are rendered by the underlying Java beans.

### Multiple Syntax Formats

In some cases, two or more forms of syntax are available for a SAS custom tag. In these cases, both forms are listed. This does not indicate that both forms must be specified; rather, it indicates that you can use one of the listed forms to add the features of a SAS custom tag to your page.