topic Re: Error with macro to create forward values in New SAS User

Error with macro to create forward values

julianaram — Sun, 15 Dec 2019 21:42:17 GMT

Hi! I'm trying to create leads for the variable "annualearn" and I want to call them earn_t&i. For that, I am writing the following macro:

%macro forwardearn;
%do i=1 %to 7;
data analysis30;
set analysis30;
if eof&i=0 then
set analysis30 (firstobs=&i+1 keep=annualearn rename=(annualearn=earn_t&i)) end=eof&i;
else earn_t&i=.;
run;
%end;
%mend;
%forwardearn;

And I get the error: ERROR 22-7: Invalid option name +. , which I think it refers to the + in firstobs=&i+1 (only + in the macro).

Does anyone have an idea of what I am doing wrong??

Re: Error with macro to create forward values

Astounding — Sun, 15 Dec 2019 22:59:00 GMT

The syntax for FIRSTOBS= must take a number, not an expression. Have the macro processor resolve the expression into a number before the DATA step "sees" it:

firstobs=%eval(&i+1)

Re: Error with macro to create forward values

julianaram — Sun, 15 Dec 2019 23:29:53 GMT

This was super helpful. Now it works. Thanks!

Re: Error with macro to create forward values

Kurt_Bremser — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 07:38:30 GMT

You should also avoid running multiple steps:

%macro forward;
data analysis30_a;
merge
  analysis30
%do i = 1 %to 7;
  analysis30 (firstobs=&i+1 keep=annualearn rename=(annualearn=earn_t&i))
%end;
;
run;
%mend;
%forward

In my experience, the merge without by sets variables to missing when one of the datasets gets past eof.