topic Re: Assign a macro variable inside a macro. in SAS Programming

Assign a macro variable inside a macro.

deleted_user — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:32:16 GMT

What is wrong with this stupid example:

%macro test;
%let x=10;
%mend;

%test;
%put &x;

In the log I get (after the code listing):

WARNING: Apparent symbolic reference X not resolved
&x

I expected to get the value 10.

Don't ask me why I want to assign a macro variable inside a macro.

Re: Assign a macro variable inside a macro.

LinusH — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:18:14 GMT

Assigning av macro variable inside a macro creates a variable that is local to the macro.
To be able to refer to it outside the macro you need to add a %global before the assignment.

/Linus

Re: Assign a macro variable inside a macro.

sbb — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:13:04 GMT

Some useful reading from the SAS support http://support.sas.com/ website for you to consider.

Scott Barry
SBBWorks, Inc.

SAS Macro Language: Reference - Scopes of Macro Variables
http://support.sas.com/documentation/cdl/en/mcrolref/61885/HTML/default/a002047080.htm

Re: Assign a macro variable inside a macro.

sbb — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:13:10 GMT

** SAS forum burp - duplicate removed **

Re: Assign a macro variable inside a macro.

Paige — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:36:26 GMT

If you move the %put statement inside the macro, everything works.

Another responder has explained how %global also fixed the problem, but I would recommend instead of %global, you do all macro commands involving your macro variables INSIDE the macro.

Re: Assign a macro variable inside a macro.

PatrickG — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:18:34 GMT

Exactly. And there are some good examples of how it works in the doc link that Scott posted, above.