topic Re: Print macro variables with semi colon in New SAS User

Print macro variables with semi colon

DucatiJong — Fri, 21 Jun 2019 04:57:55 GMT

Hi,

I was creating a dynamic list of code string with semicolon and putting them on macro variables. When i try to verify these constructed statements, i found out that i could not print these as they contain semi colon. An example of my problem below,

data _null_;
call symputx('MyList','stuff with '||'&'||' and '||' ;'||' and some other stuffs');
run;

%put &=MyList;

Is there a way i could get around this? I dont have to use %put and my main purpose is to be able to review my list as my build is way more complicated that the example above.

Cheers for any help.

Re: Print macro variables with semi colon

PeterClemmensen — Fri, 21 Jun 2019 07:46:42 GMT

You can use a Macro Quoting Function to get around this

%let MyList=%str(stuff with & and ; and some other stuffs);

%put &MyList;

Re: Print macro variables with semi colon

Astounding — Fri, 21 Jun 2019 12:17:57 GMT

You can see the values assigned with:

%put _user_;

However those semicolons can still cause trouble when you try to use the variables in other ways.

Re: Print macro variables with semi colon

Tom — Fri, 21 Jun 2019 12:30:10 GMT

You can use macro quoting to allow the value to print without the macro processor trying to evaluate the semi-colon (or the & and % characters).

The %SUPERQ() macro function is a good way.

%put MYLIST=%superq(mylist);

Re: Print macro variables with semi colon

DucatiJong — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 05:06:04 GMT

Thanks!