Which statement is true regarding filename statements in SAS?

A filename statement in SAS is indeed global. This means that once a filename is defined, it can be accessed from anywhere in the SAS session, across different steps and data files, until it is cleared or the session ends. This global aspect allows for easier management of file references, as multiple data steps or procedures can use the same filename without needing to redefine it in each step.

In contrast, temporary and local statements typically apply to specific data steps, which is not the case with filename statements; they remain accessible throughout the entire SAS session. While filename statements can point to data files, they do not limit themselves to a single specific file nor do they point to a collection of SAS data sets directly. Instead, they serve as pointers to external files that could be used to read from or write to, which shows the versatility and global scope of filename statements.