What does "/ /" mean in SAS

[Phil_NZ]

Hi all SAS Users,

Today when reading a SAS code:

data have;
input x @@;
datalines;
1 2 3
;
data test3;
   set have;
   put _N_=;
   _N_=0;
   put _N_= //;
run;

The log is as below

_N_=1
_N_=0


_N_=2
_N_=0


_N_=3
_N_=0

It is my first time seeing "/ /" in SAS, I tried to perform some searches but there is no result available for me, even from lexjansen.

My keyword is " "/ /"  in SAS meaning", whether I did something wrong in searching as well? And could you please explain what does "/ /" play on the above code and some cases we normally apply this one?

Warm regards.

[japelin]

"/" is a line pointer control that represents a line break

See here.

https://v8doc.sas.com/sashtml/lgref/z0161869.htm#z0150137

[Phil_NZ]

Hi @japelin 

Thank you for your reply.

I understand this one because "/" is an operator and can be searched, I am curious about what does "/ /" mean

Or, "/" is one line break, so "/ /" is two lines break ????

Warm regards.

[ChrisNZ]

> so "/ /" is two lines break ????

indeed

[japelin · Accepted solution]

Yes, it is.
"//" is two lines break.

[Shmuel]

The / is used in a put statement. Each / breaks a line, thus start a new line.

// is therefor adds two space lines.