Assigning Descriptive Labels

To label the columns in your report with more descriptive text, you use the LABEL statement to assign a descriptive label to a variable.

General form, LABEL statement:

LABEL variable1='label' variable2='label';

Labels can be up to 256 characters long and must be enclosed in quotes.

To label columns in PROC PRINT output, you must also use the LABEL option in the PROC PRINT statement .

In the PROC PRINT step below, the variable WalkJogRun is displayed with the label Walk/Jog/Run. Note the LABEL option in the PROC PRINT statement.

proc print data=clinic.therapy label;
   label walkjogrun='Walk/Jog/Run';
run;

Obs Month AerClass Walk/Jog/Run Swim

1 JAN1999 56 78 14

2 FEB1999 32 109 19

3 MAR1999 35 106 22

4 APR1999 47 115 24

5 MAY1999 55 121 31

6 JUN1999 61 114 67

7 JUL1999 67 102 72

8 AUG1999 64 76 77

9 SEP1999 78 77 54

10 OCT1999 81 62 47

11 NOV1999 84 31 52

12 DEC1999 2 44 55

13 JAN2000 37 91 83

14 FEB2000 41 102 27

15 MAR2000 52 98 19

16 APR2000 61 118 22

17 MAY2000 49 88 29

18 JUN2000 24 101 54

19 JUL2000 45 91 69

20 AUG2000 63 65 53

21 SEP2000 60 49 68

22 OCT2000 78 70 41

23 NOV2000 82 44 58

24 DEC2000 93 57 47

Obs	Month	AerClass	Walk/Jog/Run	Swim
1	JAN1999	56	78	14
2	FEB1999	32	109	19
3	MAR1999	35	106	22
4	APR1999	47	115	24
5	MAY1999	55	121	31
6	JUN1999	61	114	67
7	JUL1999	67	102	72
8	AUG1999	64	76	77
9	SEP1999	78	77	54
10	OCT1999	81	62	47
11	NOV1999	84	31	52
12	DEC1999	2	44	55
13	JAN2000	37	91	83
14	FEB2000	41	102	27
15	MAR2000	52	98	19
16	APR2000	61	118	22
17	MAY2000	49	88	29
18	JUN2000	24	101	54
19	JUL2000	45	91	69
20	AUG2000	63	65	53
21	SEP2000	60	49	68
22	OCT2000	78	70	41
23	NOV2000	82	44	58
24	DEC2000	93	57	47

Using Single or Multiple LABEL Statements
You can assign labels in separate LABEL statements . . .
proc print data=clinic.admit label; var age height; label age='Age of Patient'; label height='Height in Inches'; run;

. . . or assign any number of labels in a single LABEL statement.
proc print data=clinic.admit label; var actlevel height weight; label actlevel='Activity Level' height='Height in Inches' weight='Weight in Pounds'; run;