ODS graphics on - with PROC GLM causing error in the log - "ERROR 180-322:"

[A_Kh]

Dear Experts, 

I've 2 datasets for regression testing (against each other). It's a very rare (almost never happens) that there is a discrepancy between two datasets. So, i'm providing a portion of data that would be identical for both datasets. 

The code produces a PDF report from PROC GLM and PROC PRINT outputs. When running it without PROC GLM, there is no issue. But with PROC GLM I'm getting an error message "ERROR 180-322: Statement is not valid or it is used out of proper order." in the log. Looking at the log, I would say the error is caused by ODS GRAPHICS ON /PROC GLM statement. 

I've read previous posts ( example ) regarding this error message and investigated my codes, but no success. May be somebody did have a similar experience as me and could help to figure out the issue. 

Below is data portion, my code and log screens. 
Thank you!

data have_old;
input P Est SE Grad;
cards;
 1       -3.27        0.46        0.00
 2       -3.46        0.49        0.00
 3       -5.60        1.44        0.00
 4       -1.25        0.15        0.00
 5       -0.83        0.14        0.00
 6       -4.68        0.75        0.00
 7       -3.56        0.44        0.00
 8       -0.22        0.22        0.00
 9       -1.51        0.33        0.00
10       -3.50        0.38        0.00
11       -2.67        0.25        0.00
12       -1.93        0.33        0.00
13       -4.14        0.53        0.00
14       -3.04        0.55        0.00
15       -3.41        0.43        0.00
16       -2.19        0.34        0.00
17       -3.08        0.32        0.00
18       -1.95        0.19        0.00
19       -3.76        0.40        0.00
20       -4.31        0.71        0.00
;
run; 

data have_new;
	set have_old;
run; 

%macro compare; 
	ods noproctitle;
	ods pdf file= "C:\Users\myfolder\Desktop\test\output\DOC1.pdf";
		%do i= 1 %to 1;
			data newversion;
				set n&i._%fixname(%scan(&&newversionfile&i, 1, -)) (keep= p est);
			run; 
			data oldversion;
				set o&i._%fixname(%scan(&&oldversionfile&i, 1, -)) (keep= p est);
			run; 
			data combined;
				merge newversion(rename=(est= Version_%fixname(&newversion))) oldversion(rename=(est= Version_%fixname(&oldversion)));
				by p;
				if Version_%fixname(&newversion) ne Version_%fixname(&oldversion) then Warnings= "Check this row for discrepancies";
			run;

			ods graphics on; 
			ods exclude all;
			ods select FitStatistics FitPlot;
			PROC GLM data=combined plots= all;
				model Version_%fixname(&newversion) = Version_%fixname(&oldversion);
				title "Regression Testing of &NewVersion and &OldVersion EST values: %upcase(&&newversionfile&i)";
				footnote j=l font=arial h=8pt "Source:&&newversionpath&i\&&newversionfile&i and &&oldversionpath&i\&&oldversionfile&i"; 	
			run;
			quit; 
			ods graphics off;

			title "Discrepancies between &NewVersion and &OldVersion EST values: %upcase(&&newversionfile&i)";
			footnote j=l font=arial h=8pt "Source:&&newversionpath&i\&&newversionfile&i and &&oldversionpath&i\&&oldversionfile&i"; 	
			proc print data=combined noobs;
				where Warnings ne ""; 
			run;
			title;footnote;
		%end; 
	ods pdf close;
	ods html;
	ods proctitle;
%mend;

%compare; 

Log without PROC GLM (only proc print, where subsetting statement excluded for testing)



Log with PROC GLM

[FreelanceReinh · Accepted solution]

Hello @A_Kh,

An invalid non-printable character, e.g. 'A0'x (non-breaking space), after "ods graphics on;" can cause exactly this error message. So, deleting all whitespace characters between "ods graphics on;" and "ods exclude all;" and replacing them with ordinary blanks might resolve the issue.

[A_Kh]

Hi @FreelanceReinh , 
Thank you for your reply! Yes, apparently that was the issue. I've removed every single blanks around proc glm and it cleared the log from error.