What will the execution result be if the PUT and FILE statements are swapped in a DATA _NULL_ step?

In a DATA NULL step, the PUT statement is typically used to write data directly to the output destination, while the FILE statement specifies where that output should go. When the PUT and FILE statements are swapped, the behavior changes significantly.

When the FILE statement is executed first, it defines the output destination (such as a file), but without a corresponding PUT statement to specify what data is to be written, nothing will be outputted. The data intended for output does not reach the specified file; instead, the lack of a proper PUT statement after the FILE statement means that no data is actually written to any destination.

Thus, when the execution result occurs after swapping these statements, the intended data will not be sent to the file, leading to the understanding that the data is effectively lost in the process. Therefore, the correct assessment is that while the destination is set by the FILE statement, without the corresponding PUT execution to actually dictate the data, it will essentially result in no output being generated or directed to a specified file.