What does the RUN statement signify in SAS procedures like GCHART and GPLOT?

The RUN statement in SAS procedures such as GCHART and GPLOT serves a crucial role by signaling the end of a procedure and prompting SAS to execute it immediately. When the RUN statement is encountered, SAS processes the preceding statements within that procedure, generating the desired output based on the specified actions. This means that all the instructions leading up to the RUN statement will be acted upon in one consolidated execution.

The importance of this is evident in how SAS handles its execution flow; without a RUN statement, SAS does not inherently know when to process the commands written for a specific procedure. Thus, using RUN effectively finalizes the commands for that procedure and initiates the rendering of any graphical representations or outputs defined prior in the code.

This is why the RUN statement is essential in controlling program flow and ensuring that the instructions are executed properly before moving on to any subsequent code or procedures.