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SYSTEM

Category:

Special

Arguments

command

Operating Environment Information:   See the SAS documentation for your operating environment for information on what you can specify.  

Comparisons

The SYSTEM function is similar to the X statement, the X command, and the CALL SYSTEM routine. In most cases, the X statement, X command, or %SYSEXEC macro statement are preferable because they require less overhead. However, the SYSTEM function can be executed conditionally, and accepts expressions as arguments. The X statement is a global statement and executes as a DATA step is being compiled, regardless of whether SAS encounters a conditional statement.

Example

Execute the host command TIMEDATA if the macro variable SYSDAY is Friday.

data _null_;
   if "&sysday"="Friday" then do;
      rc=system("timedata");
   end;
   else rc=system("errorck");
run;

	CALL Routine: CALL SYSTEM
	Statement: X

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