topic create names for multiple htms using SAS macro in ODS and Base Reporting

create names for multiple htms using SAS macro

tipscode — Thu, 27 Apr 2017 18:56:49 GMT

I would like to name the title of a html output using a sas macro that will run with a do loop for multiple iterations in SAS 9.4:

The current code is %macro test (st,xst1);

.....

%mend test;

followed by, e.g., %test ('CA',CA15);

run;

The dataset where the table (in HTML format) will be output has the following where statement:

where statefip IN (&st);

There is a year variable where there are observations with '15 values. Is there a way that I can draw this information out as a macro variable to apply for all files?

I am confused about the logic behind "xst1".

Thank you in advance for any comments and suggestions!

Re: create names for multiple htms using SAS macro

Astounding — Thu, 27 Apr 2017 19:17:13 GMT

It sounds like you need more experience with macro language, to figure out what it is doing.

Look through your macro, with these guidelines:

Any time you see &ST (or &st) picture it as being replaced by the 4 characters 'CA'
Any time you see &XST1 (or &xst1) picture it as being replaced by the 4 characters CA15

Whatever SAS program results from those text substitutions, that is the program that is running.

Obviously, there is more to macro language than this. But that's a good starting point.

Re: create names for multiple htms using SAS macro

tipscode — Thu, 27 Apr 2017 19:28:21 GMT

Thank you! Follow-up question: Does single quotes or double quotes matter for 'CA'?

I have been going through past articles from Art Carpenter and think that his macro reference would help for this and other tasks. Are there any other references that I can read up on?

Re: create names for multiple htms using SAS macro

Astounding — Thu, 27 Apr 2017 19:44:02 GMT

Single vs. double quotes in 'CA' probably make no difference. It depends on what the SAS statement looks like after substituting those 4 characters for &ST.

As a general rule, single vs. double quotes make a big difference when referring to a macro variable. Single quotes suppress all macro activity. So:

"&xst1" will resolve and become "CA15"

But:

'&xst1' will not resolve and will remain '&xst1'

There are dozens of papers out there on macro language. Art's book is good, but you can get started today with a little searching without having to wait for a book to arrive.

Re: create names for multiple htms using SAS macro

Cynthia_sas — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 12:52:59 GMT

Here's a paper to get you started: https://support.sas.com/resources/papers/proceedings13/120-2013.pdf and also http://www2.sas.com/proceedings/sugi28/056-28.pdf .

cynthia

Re: create names for multiple htms using SAS macro

tipscode — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 17:54:04 GMT

Thank you Cynthia.