topic Re: SAS macro in New SAS User

SAS macro

saipriya92 — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 04:58:09 GMT

Hi, I want to create a SAS macro that will be used to create dataset names for each dataset.

I made it earlier but don't remember it. It was something like this:

%macro test ( dataset1= , dataset 2= );

%mend;

% test;

Data &dataset1. ;

Set abc;

Run;

Data &dataset2.;

Set xtz;

Run;

%mend test;

%test;

%dataset1=data_1:

%dataset2= data_2;

%mend test;

Is the above code correct??

Re: SAS macro

Criptic — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 05:28:56 GMT

Hey @saipriya92 ,

so this coding will not even run, but I guess that is why you are here.

The question is what do you want? Create dataset names for each dataset? What rules should the naming convention follow, etc.?

Please post an example of your input and your expected output.

Kind Regards

Criptic

Re: SAS macro

Kurt_Bremser — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 07:11:18 GMT

Writing a macro

%macro mymac(ds1=,ds2=);
data &ds1.;
set &ds2.;
run;
%mend;

so that you can use

%mymac(ds1=abc,ds2=xyz)

just to automate

data abc;
set xyz;
run;

is only a waste of time. And it makes programs less maintainable, because now everyone (and that includes your future YOU!) has to look for the macro code in another place, instead of seeing what will happen right there on the spot.