SAS Companion for the CMS Environment

Default Routings

For each SAS job or session, the SAS System automatically creates two types of output:

SAS log file: contains information about the processing of SAS statements. As each program step executes, notes are written to the SAS log along with any applicable error or warning messages. For more information, see SAS Log File .
SAS procedure output file: is also called the print file. Whenever a SAS program executes a PROC step that produces printed output, SAS sends the output to the procedure output file. For more information, see SAS Procedure Output File .

Default Routings of the SAS Log and Procedure Output Files shows the default routings of the SAS log and procedure output files.

Default Routings of the SAS Log and Procedure Output Files
Processing Mode SAS Log File Procedure Output File

windowing environment LOG window OUTPUT window

interactive line terminal terminal

noninteractive disk file disk file

batch disk file disk file

***Default Routings of the SAS Log and Procedure Output Files***
Processing Mode	SAS Log File	Procedure Output File
windowing environment	LOG window	OUTPUT window
interactive line	terminal	terminal
noninteractive	disk file	disk file
batch	disk file	disk file

By default, when you type input to SAS, the log file and output file are sent to a window or terminal. If a source file provides input to SAS, as is usually the case during noninteractive mode or in batch mode, the log file and output file are written to disk.

Typically, when SAS is running in noninteractive mode or in batch mode, the SAS log and procedure output are written to the same minidisk or directory where the source file was found--provided that there is both READ and WRITE access to the disk or directory. If there is only read access to the disk or directory, the SAS log and the procedure output are saved to the first accessed READ/WRITE disk or directory. The SAS log has a filetype of SASLOG, and the SAS procedure output file has a filetype of LISTING. The filename for each of these is the same as the filename of the source file.

This section explains how to change the routing of the SAS log and procedure output. Use Decision Table: Changing the Default Destination to help you decide which method you should choose to change the routing.

Decision Table: Changing the Default Destination
To route your SAS log or procedure output to... Using this mode of processing... Use this method... See...

a printer batch, windowing FILENAME statement and PRINTTO procedure Using the PRINTTO Procedure

windowing PRINT command and FORM subsystem Using the PRINT Command and the FORM Subsystem

PRTFILE and PRINT commands Using the PRTFILE and PRINT Commands

an external file any mode PRINTTO procedure Routing to External Files with the PRINTTO Procedure

batch LOG= and PRINT= system options Routing Your SAS Log or Procedure Output to an External File

its usual location and to an external file any mode ALTLOG= and ALTPRINT= system options Routing to External Files with SAS System Options

windowing FILE command Using the FILE Command

a terminal noninteractive mode LOG= and PRINT= system options Routing Output to the Terminal

the same destination (log and output interleaved) any mode LOG= and PRINT= system options Routing the SAS Log and Output to the Same Destination

***Decision Table: Changing the Default Destination***
To route your SAS log or procedure output to...	Using this mode of processing...	Use this method...	See...
a printer	batch, windowing	FILENAME statement and PRINTTO procedure	Using the PRINTTO Procedure
windowing	PRINT command and FORM subsystem	Using the PRINT Command and the FORM Subsystem
PRTFILE and PRINT commands	Using the PRTFILE and PRINT Commands
an external file	any mode	PRINTTO procedure	Routing to External Files with the PRINTTO Procedure
batch	LOG= and PRINT= system options	Routing Your SAS Log or Procedure Output to an External File
its usual location and to an external file	any mode	ALTLOG= and ALTPRINT= system options	Routing to External Files with SAS System Options
windowing	FILE command	Using the FILE Command
a terminal	noninteractive mode	LOG= and PRINT= system options	Routing Output to the Terminal
the same destination (log and output interleaved)	any mode	LOG= and PRINT= system options	Routing the SAS Log and Output to the Same Destination

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