topic Re: create a macro variable in SAS Programming

create a macro variable

pnp123 — Fri, 26 Jan 2018 12:56:10 GMT

Data test;

put

abc $3.

qrs $3.

xyz $5.;

do 1 to 20;

abc="djsdfsdk";

qrs="sdui";

xyz="YHTyuh";

end;

output;

run;

i need to create macro variable for abc, qrs, xyz

Can anybody please help

Re: create a macro variable

error_prone — Fri, 26 Jan 2018 13:03:37 GMT

What do you want to do with the macro variables? What should they contain?

The position of the output statement seems to be wrong.

Re: create a macro variable

PeterClemmensen — Fri, 26 Jan 2018 13:06:40 GMT

For what purpose is this code? It makes very little sense.

You can use the CALL SYMPUTX Routine to create macro variables in a data step

Re: create a macro variable

Kurt_Bremser — Fri, 26 Jan 2018 13:28:28 GMT

Before you even think about dealing with the macro preprocessor, you need to get a grasp of basic SAS data step principles, which you very obviously have not yet managed to do:

Data test;
     put  
      abc $3.
      qrs $3.
      xyz $5.; /* This put statement makes no sense, as the variables have no values yet */
 
    do 1 to 20;
      abc="djsdfsdk";
      qrs="sdui";
      xyz="YHTyuh";
   end; /* this do loop also makes no sense, as it just sets the same values 20 times in succession. Just a waste of CPU cycles */
output; /* this statement is not necessary, as the data step will perform an implicit output of it's own at the end of an iteration */
run;

Re: create a macro variable

Reeza — Fri, 26 Jan 2018 16:19:56 GMT

You create macro variables in a data step using CALL SYMPUTX().

Your question is too vague to answer, so given how you've stated it, this would be 'correct':

%let macro1=abc;
%let macro2=qrs;
%let macro3=xyz;

You should also look into how PROC SQL can create macro variables, it's quite efficient at doing so, check the documentation for the relevant section with full examples:

proc sql noprint;
select name into :name1-
from sashelp.class;
quit;

%put &name1.;
%put &name19.;