How to Easily Add Titles and Footnotes to Your SAS Output

Understanding the Basic Syntax of the TITLE Statement

The core function of the TITLE statement in SAS is to quickly associate a descriptive title with a specific procedure output, such as a table generated by PROC PRINT or a chart created by PROC SGPLOT. When used without a number, the TITLE statement defines the primary, topmost title for the output. This statement is typically placed before the procedure step (PROC) that generates the output, ensuring that the title is rendered correctly alongside the results.

The structure of the basic TITLE statement is straightforward. It begins with the keyword TITLE, followed by the desired title text enclosed in quotation marks. If you define a title using only the TITLE keyword, it acts as TITLE1, setting the main heading. If you want to clear all previously defined titles or footnotes, you simply use the keyword without any text or options (e.g., TITLE;). This simple syntax is the foundation upon which more complex, multi-layered titling is built, providing immediate identification for any statistical report or graphical representation produced by the SAS system.

The following example demonstrates the most fundamental application of the TITLE statement, illustrating how to define and apply a single title to a procedure output. This method is ideal when only one line of descriptive text is required above the resulting table or graph, offering a clean and concise label for the data visualization or report section.

Method 1: Applying a Single Output Title

You can use the TITLE statement in SAS to quickly add a single, centered title to a table or chart. This approach is best suited for simple, direct labeling where no complex hierarchy or specialized formatting is necessary. The statement remains active for all subsequent procedure outputs until it is explicitly changed, replaced, or cleared. Therefore, careful placement within your SAS program is crucial to ensure that the correct title is associated with the appropriate output results.

This statement uses the following basic syntax structure when defining a singular title:

Syntax for Single Title Application

/* Define the primary title using the TITLE statement */
title "This is a title";

/* View the dataset using PROC PRINT, which inherits the defined title */
proc print data=my_data;

When this code executes, the string “This is a title” will appear centered at the top of the output generated by the PROC PRINT step. It is important to remember that the quoted text can contain any character string, and its default appearance (font, size, color) will be determined by the current ODS (Output Delivery System) style in use. While simple, this method ensures that every resultant table or graph is clearly labeled, which is a fundamental requirement for reproducible and professional reporting in SAS.

Method 2: Defining Multiple Titles and Hierarchy

For reports requiring greater detail or structured organization, SAS allows the definition of multiple title lines using numbered TITLE statements (TITLE1, TITLE2, TITLE3, and so on). This mechanism establishes a clear hierarchy, with TITLE1 always appearing highest on the page, followed sequentially by higher numbers. This is particularly useful for complex reports where the top line might be a general company or project name, the second line might detail the specific analysis type, and subsequent lines might provide dates or specific filters used.

The primary advantage of using numbered TITLE statements is the ability to apply distinct formatting options to each line independently. Unlike the single TITLE keyword, which assumes default formatting or applies globally defined styles, the numbered statements allow for granular control over aesthetics, including justification, font family, color, and size. This capability ensures that the most important title lines can be visually emphasized while supporting information remains legible yet less dominant.

The following example demonstrates how to define three separate title lines, each customized with unique attributes such as color, height (size), and text justification, providing a layered and visually appealing output heading.

Syntax for Multiple Styled Titles

/* Define titles with specific formatting options */
title1 color="purple" height=25pt bold italic underline=1 "This is a Title";
title2 font="Helvetica" justify=left height=18pt "Second Title";
title3 color="green" justify=right height=14pt "Third Title";

/* View dataset with the hierarchical titles applied */
proc print data=my_data;

Advanced Styling Options for TITLE Statements

The real power of the numbered TITLE statements lies in the extensive range of options available for visual customization. These options allow programmers to control every aesthetic detail, making the output titles consistent with corporate branding or specific reporting standards. Understanding and utilizing these options ensures that titles not only convey information but also contribute to the overall professionalism of the statistical report.

When applying formatting to titles, the options must be placed between the TITLEn keyword and the title string itself. These options function as keywords that modify the subsequent title string until another title statement overrides them. This fine-grained control is critical for data presentation, especially when contrasting different sections or emphasizing key findings within the report. For example, using a distinct color for an alert or warning title line can immediately draw the user’s attention to critical caveats.

Note the following key options that you can use to modify the appearance and placement of titles and footnotes:

• COLOR: Specifies the font color. This accepts standard HTML color names (e.g., “red”, “blue”) or hexadecimal color codes for precise corporate branding.
• HEIGHT: Controls the font size. This is often specified in typographical points (pt) or centimeters (cm) and dictates the prominence of the title line.
• FONT: Determines the font family used for the title text (e.g., “Arial”, “Helvetica”). The availability of fonts depends on the ODS destination (e.g., HTML, PDF, RTF).
• JUSTIFY: Sets the horizontal alignment of the title. Options include LEFT, RIGHT, or CENTER (which is the default if omitted).
• STYLE: Used for applying specific font styles. You can apply BOLD, ITALIC, or UNDERLINE to modify the text presentation, ensuring certain words or phrases stand out within the title line.

These options can be combined freely on a single title line, allowing for highly complex and customized visual designs. It is generally recommended to define these styles at the beginning of the TITLE statement before the quoted text to ensure proper parsing by the SAS compiler.

Practical Application: Detailed Example 1 (Single Title)

To illustrate the simple application of the TITLE statement, we will walk through a complete SAS program. This example involves creating a small dummy dataset and then using the basic TITLE keyword in conjunction with PROC PRINT to produce a labeled output table. This method is the standard starting point for anyone generating routine data checks or quick reports in SAS.

The following code shows how to create and label a simple dataset called original_data and attach one descriptive title to its printed output. Notice the placement of the TITLE statement immediately before the PROC PRINT step; this ensures the title scope correctly covers the procedure that follows. The title will automatically be centered by default, providing a clean, non-distracting header for the resulting table.

/* Create dataset named original_data */
data original_data;
    input team $ points rebounds;
    datalines;
A 25 10
A 18 4
B 27 9
B 33 13
;
run;

/* Define the title for the next procedure */
title "This is a title";

/* View dataset using PROC PRINT */
proc print data=original_data;
run;

The result of this code execution is a standard printed table containing the team, points, and rebounds variables, with the phrase “This is a title” positioned clearly above the data columns. This method provides the quickest way to label output and is often sufficient for internal consistency checks or preliminary reporting. It establishes the context without requiring complex formatting overhead.

Practical Application: Detailed Example 2 (Multiple Styled Titles)

When generating official reports or presentations, standard centered titles may not suffice. This next example demonstrates the full potential of the numbered TITLE statements by applying three distinct title lines, each formatted to convey specific visual weight and hierarchy. We maintain the same underlying dataset structure but significantly enhance the header presentation.

The following code shows how to implement multiple titles with custom designs, including specific colors, heights, and justifications, before calling PROC PRINT. Note how TITLE1 uses large purple bold italic text, TITLE2 is left-justified in a specific font, and TITLE3 is smaller, green, and right-justified. This combination provides a rich, multi-dimensional header that instantly communicates different levels of information to the reader.

/* Create dataset named original_data */
data original_data;
    input team $ points rebounds;
    datalines;
A 25 10
A 18 4
B 27 9
B 33 13
;
run;

/* Define hierarchical and styled titles */
title1 color="purple" height=25pt bold italic underline=1 "First Title";
title2 font="Helvetica" justify=left height=18pt "Second Title";
title3 color="green" justify=right height=14pt "Third Title";

/* View dataset */
proc print data=original_data;
run;

The resulting output clearly displays the three distinct title lines, demonstrating how formatting options can be used effectively to differentiate between primary report titles, secondary descriptive information, and specific run parameters or dates, significantly improving the overall aesthetic and informational content of the report header.

Using the FOOTNOTE Statement for Supplementary Information

While the TITLE statement provides crucial context at the top of the output, the FOOTNOTE statement serves the equally vital role of adding supplementary details at the bottom of the page. Footnotes are essential for providing information that may distract from the main output visualization but is still necessary for data integrity, reproducibility, or legal compliance. Common uses include citing data sources, listing critical assumptions made during the analysis, or providing contact information for the report creator.

Similar to the TITLE statement, FOOTNOTE statements can be numbered (FOOTNOTE1, FOOTNOTE2, etc.) to allow for multiple lines of information, with FOOTNOTE1 appearing closest to the output body. If the simple FOOTNOTE keyword is used without a number, it defaults to FOOTNOTE1. All formatting options available for titles (such as COLOR, HEIGHT, FONT, and JUSTIFY) are also fully functional within the FOOTNOTE statement, allowing for consistent branding or subtle presentation of secondary information.

A highly recommended practice is to use system variables within footnotes. For example, using the &SYSDATE automatic macro variable allows the user to display the date the code was executed, enhancing the audit trail of the report. The syntax follows the same pattern as the title syntax, ensuring ease of use and consistency across the programming environment. For example: FOOTNOTE "Report Generated on &SYSDATE"; provides dynamic, accurate documentation for every output generated.

Conclusion and Best Practices

The proper use of the TITLE and FOOTNOTE statements is a hallmark of professional SAS reporting. These simple statements move the output from being a raw data dump to a polished, contextually rich document. Always remember to prioritize clarity and relevance when crafting your titles and footnotes. Use TITLE1 for the main topic and subsequent titles for descriptive sub-lines. Reserve footnotes for metadata and disclaimers.

Furthermore, it is a best practice to explicitly clear titles and footnotes when moving between different analytical blocks, especially if they are generating unrelated outputs. To clear all active titles, simply execute TITLE; (without quotes or options). To clear all active footnotes, execute FOOTNOTE;. This prevents titles defined for one procedure from inadvertently carrying over to a subsequent, unrelated procedure, ensuring that every piece of output remains accurately labeled and professionally formatted.

Mastering these techniques ensures that your statistical output is not only accurate but also highly presentable and easy to interpret.

Related SAS Tutorials

The following tutorials explain how to perform other common tasks in SAS, building upon the foundational knowledge of report formatting: