topic Re: NOTE: Invalid argument to function SYMPUT('1','157') at line 28 column 6. in New SAS User

NOTE: Invalid argument to function SYMPUT('1','157') at line 28 column 6.

Ivy — Thu, 16 Jan 2020 21:43:04 GMT

Hello,

I tried to use the following statement to create two macro variables. However it gave me the error. May you please help ? Thanks.

ERROR: Symbolic variable name 1 must begin with a letter or underscore.
NOTE: Invalid argument to function SYMPUT('1','157') at line 28 column 6.
cohort=flatiron cnnt=157 _ERROR_=1 _N_=1
ERROR: Symbolic variable name 2 must begin with a letter or underscore.
NOTE: Invalid argument to function SYMPUT('2','157') at line 28 column 6.
cohort=trial cnnt=157 _ERROR_=1 _N_=2

data _null_;
set cntt;
call symput(strip(cohort), strip(count));
run;

Obs cohort count

1 flatiron 157
2 trial 157

Re: NOTE: Invalid argument to function SYMPUT('1','157') at line 28 column 6.

Rick_SAS — Thu, 16 Jan 2020 21:59:41 GMT

If count is a numerical variable then you can put the value in a macro variable 'cohort' by using

call symput("cohort", count);

data _null_;
count = 15;
call symputx("cohort", count);
run;
%put &=cohort;

Re: NOTE: Invalid argument to function SYMPUT('1','157') at line 28 column 6.

Tom — Thu, 16 Jan 2020 22:11:30 GMT

The error messages do not seem to be related to the code you posted.

Let's turn your listing into a dataset.

data cntt ;
  input cohort :$32. count ;
cards;
flatiron 157
trial 157
;

And then try your code.

Let's simplify things by using the modern CALL SYMPUTX() function instead of archaic CALL SYMPUT() function.

data _null_;
  set cntt;
  call symputx(cohort,count);
run;

Works fine.

2156  %put &=flatiron &=trial ;
FLATIRON=157 TRIAL=157

Perhaps your COHORT variable is actual numeric with a format attached? If so you might want to use the formatted value for the name name of the macro variable.

data _null_;
  set cntt;
  call symputx(vvalue(cohort),count);
run;