The FSEDIT Procedure

FSEDIT Command

Initiates an FSEDIT session.

FSEDIT <? | data-set <screen-name>>

?

opens a selection window from which you can choose the data set to be processed by the FSEDIT procedure. The selection list in the window includes all data sets in all SAS data libraries that have been identified in the current SAS session (all data libraries that have defined librefs).

To select a data set, position the cursor on the desired data set name and press ENTER.

data-set

specifies the data set to be processed by the FSEDIT procedure. The general form of the argument is

<libref.>data-set-name <(data-set-options)>

If you omit the libref, then the default library, WORK, is assumed.

If you specify a data set that does not exist, a selection window is opened showing all available data sets. An error message in the selection window indicates that the specified data set does not exist.

If you omit this argument altogether and do not specify ? for a selection window, then the most recently created data set (the data set that is identified in the _LAST_= system option) is selected. If no data set has previously been created in the current SAS session, a selection window is opened showing all available data sets. An error message in the selection window indicates that no default data set is available.

You can add a list of data set options following the data set name. The list must be enclosed in parentheses. The FIRSTOBS= and OBS= options are ignored; all other data set options are valid. Refer to SAS Language Reference: Dictionary for a list and descriptions of data set options.

screen-name

specifies a SCREEN entry that contains custom field attributes and window characteristics for the FSEDIT session. The general form of the argument is

<libref.>catalog-name<.entry-name<.SCREEN>>

You can specify a one-, two-, three-, or four-level name:

If a one-level name is specified, it is treated as a catalog name in the default library, WORK. If the specified catalog does not already exist in the WORK library, it is created. The procedure attempts to load the default SCREEN entry FSEDIT.SCREEN from the catalog when the FSEDIT session is initiated. If the default entry does not exist, it is created when a MODIFY command is used during the FSEDIT session.
Remember that all catalogs in the WORK library are deleted when you terminate your SAS session.
If a two-level name is specified, it is treated as libref.catalog-name. If the specified catalog does not already exist in the specified library, it is created. The procedure attempts to load the default SCREEN entry FSEDIT.SCREEN from the catalog when the FSEDIT session is initiated. If the default entry does not exist, it is created when a MODIFY command is used during the FSEDIT session.
If a three-level name is specified, it is treated as libref.catalog-name.entry-name. The entry type is assumed to be SCREEN. The procedure attempts to load the specified SCREEN entry when the FSEDIT session is initiated.
If the specified SCREEN entry is not found, the FSEDIT session is initiated with the default display format. However, if the MODIFY command is used during the FSEDIT session, a SCREEN entry that has the specified name is created to store customization information.
If a four-level name is specified, the fourth level (entry type) should be SCREEN. Any other value for the type is ignored; SCREEN is used instead. The procedure attempts to load the specified SCREEN entry when the FSEDIT session is initiated.
If the specified SCREEN entry is not found, the FSEDIT session is initiated with the default display format. However, if the MODIFY command is used during the FSEDIT session, a SCREEN entry that has the specified name is created to store customization information.

Using the FSEDIT Command

The FSEDIT command can be issued in any SAS System window. When you end an FSEDIT session that was initiated with the FSEDIT command, control returns to the window from which the command was issued.

The FSEDIT command does not permit you to specify procedure options such as KEYS= and ADD. You must use a PROC FSEDIT statement rather than the FSEDIT command to initiate the procedure with these options. You must use the PROC FSEDIT statement to produce letters or other documents from the FSEDIT session because the FSEDIT command does not provide a substitute for the statement's LETTER= option. You must also use the PROC FSEDIT statement if you want to modify the procedure's behavior using the FORMAT, INFORMAT, LABEL, VAR, or WHERE statements.

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