topic Re: Macro vars in SAS Programming

Macro vars

Ronein — Sun, 27 Oct 2019 13:01:29 GMT

Hello

I need to create a data set from external macro varaibles m0,m1,m2,m3,m4,m5,m6

I have 3 questions please:

1-Why data set ttbl is not created well and I get null values

2-I need to calculate a new column called "DateName".

For each value of YYMM I need to create a value of 01 of month.

foe example:

for 1906 I need to get '01JUN2019'd

for 1905 I need to get '01May2019'd

for 1904 I need to get '01APR2019'd

for 1903 I need to get '01MAR2019'd

for 1902 I need to get '01FEB2019'd

for 1901 I need to get '01JAN2019'd

3-For each value of DateName I need to create a macro varaible.

for example:

macro varaible R0 will get value '01JUN2019'd

macro varaible R1 will get value '01May2019'd

macro varaible R2 will get value '01APR2019'd

and so on

%let m0=1906;
%let m1=1905;
%let m2=1904;
%let m3=1903;
%let m4=1902;
%let m5=1901;
%let m6=1812;
%put &m0 &m1 &m2 &m3 &m4 &m5 &m6;

Data ttbl;
Input YYMM;
cards;
&m0
&m1
&m2
&m3
&m4
&m5
&m6
;
run;
/*Why is it not created well???*/

Re: Macro vars

PeterClemmensen — Sun, 27 Oct 2019 13:05:46 GMT

Here is why

http://support.sas.com/kb/43/902.html

And here is a workaround

http://support.sas.com/kb/43/295.html

Re: Macro vars

PaigeMiller — Sun, 27 Oct 2019 13:16:34 GMT

@Ronein wrote:

Hello

I need to create a data set from external macro varaibles m0,m1,m2,m3,m4,m5,m6

I have 3 questions please:

1-Why data set ttbl is not created well and I get null values

2-I need to calculate a new column called "DateName".

For each value of YYMM I need to create a value of 01 of month.

foe example:

for 1906 I need to get '01JUN2019'd

for 1905 I need to get '01May2019'd

for 1904 I need to get '01APR2019'd

for 1903 I need to get '01MAR2019'd

for 1902 I need to get '01FEB2019'd

for 1901 I need to get '01JAN2019'd

Seems like an ideal situation to re-design the data flow into your SAS data set, for example instead of creating macro variables, put the values such as 1906 directly into a SAS data set where they belong. It's probably no more work putting them directly into a SAS data set than it is to create macro variables. Also possible: use some other type of input storage, such as a CSV file or plain old text file, instead of macro variables.

As far as turning 1906 into '01JUN2019'd, this could be easily done by utilizing informats or date functions, such as MDY().

Re: Macro vars

PaigeMiller — Sun, 27 Oct 2019 13:31:33 GMT

@PeterClemmensen wrote:

And here is a workaround

http://support.sas.com/kb/43/295.html

This makes me sad.

A better work-around would be to design a simpler/better data flow for this situation, which doesn't use macro variables in the first place. This is especially important for new SAS users to learn, coming up with an efficient data flow — don't use macro variables where they aren't necessary.

Re: Macro vars

PeterClemmensen — Sun, 27 Oct 2019 13:31:25 GMT

I agree.

Re: Macro vars

Tom — Sun, 27 Oct 2019 15:08:23 GMT

The question is silly on so many levels. Why do you have macro variables? Why do you want macro variables? Why do have a bunch of macro variables? Why do you have only two digits for the year?

But let's just answer it.

Let's assume you have M0 to M6 (and you KNOW that they exist and that always contain valid YYMM strings). Just use a data step to loop from 0 to 6 and pull in the macro variable's value and convert it to a date and write it back into new macro variables.

Do you want the VALUE of the dates?

data _null_;
  do i=0 to 6;
    date=input(symget(cats('M',i))||'01',yymmdd6.);
    call symputx(cats('R',i),date);
  end;
run;

Or the string with the quotes and D suffix like in your example:

    call symputx(cats('R',i),cats("'",put(date,date9.),"'d"));

Re: Macro vars

DaveStar — Sun, 27 Oct 2019 17:10:24 GMT

Hello All,

I am trying also to create the data set but I get null values.

I have tried to read the document but I cannot understand what should I do.

%let m0=1906;
%let m1=1905;
%let m2=1904;
%let m3=1903;
%let m4=1902;
%let m5=1901;
%let m6=1812;
%put &m0 &m1 &m2 &m3 &m4 &m5 &m6;

Data ttbl;
Input YYMM;
cards;
&m0
&m1
&m2
&m3
&m4
&m5
&m6
;
run;

Re: Macro vars

PaigeMiller — Sun, 27 Oct 2019 17:58:52 GMT

@DaveStar wrote:

Hello All,

I am trying also to create the data set but I get null values.

I have tried to read the document but I cannot understand what should I do.
%let m0=1906;
%let m1=1905;
%let m2=1904;
%let m3=1903;
%let m4=1902;
%let m5=1901;
%let m6=1812;
%put &m0 &m1 &m2 &m3 &m4 &m5 &m6;

Data ttbl;
Input YYMM;
cards;
&m0
&m1
&m2
&m3
&m4
&m5
&m6
;
run;

@DaveStar this was explained earlier in this thread by @PeterClemmensen .

Re: Macro vars

Shmuel — Sun, 27 Oct 2019 17:59:28 GMT

@Ronein and @DaveStar you can't use macro variables as input data under CARDS (or DATALINES);

Sas reads it as is, '&m0' instead as '1906'.

The macro variables are to be used in the sas code only. See @Tom's post or next simple code. Try it.

%let m0 = 1906;
%let m1 = 1905;
...

data test;
  m0 = &m0.01;
  date0 = input(m0, yymmdd8.); ;
  call symput('dt0', put(date0, date9.);
  output;

 m1 = &m1.01;
  date1 = input(m1, yymmdd8.); 
  call symput('dt1', put(date1, date9.);
  output;
run;

%put &dt0 &ddt1;

Re: Macro vars

Reeza — Sun, 27 Oct 2019 18:00:08 GMT

Homework problem or multiple accounts?

https://communities.sas.com/t5/SAS-Programming/Run-multiple-Macros-with-automatic-created-dates-parameters/m-p/599661

@Ronein wrote:

Hello

I need to create a data set from external macro varaibles m0,m1,m2,m3,m4,m5,m6

I have 3 questions please:

1-Why data set ttbl is not created well and I get null values

2-I need to calculate a new column called "DateName".

For each value of YYMM I need to create a value of 01 of month.

foe example:

for 1906 I need to get '01JUN2019'd

for 1905 I need to get '01May2019'd

for 1904 I need to get '01APR2019'd

for 1903 I need to get '01MAR2019'd

for 1902 I need to get '01FEB2019'd

for 1901 I need to get '01JAN2019'd

3-For each value of DateName I need to create a macro varaible.

for example:

macro varaible R0 will get value '01JUN2019'd

macro varaible R1 will get value '01May2019'd

macro varaible R2 will get value '01APR2019'd

and so on
%let m0=1906;
%let m1=1905;
%let m2=1904;
%let m3=1903;
%let m4=1902;
%let m5=1901;
%let m6=1812;
%put &m0 &m1 &m2 &m3 &m4 &m5 &m6;

Data ttbl;
Input YYMM;
cards;
&m0
&m1
&m2
&m3
&m4
&m5
&m6
;
run;
/*Why is it not created well???*/

Re: Macro vars

VDD — Sun, 27 Oct 2019 18:00:38 GMT

@Ronein and @DaveStar a good understanding about SAS dates may assist you in the future.

Here is a link may assist both of you.

http://v8doc.sas.com/sashtml/lrcon/zenid-63.htm

Re: Macro vars

DaveStar — Sun, 27 Oct 2019 18:02:50 GMT

I will try to do it.

Is it forbidden to ask questions regarding homework...?Lol....

No worries...it is not Homework.

Thanks

Re: Macro vars

PaigeMiller — Sun, 27 Oct 2019 18:11:08 GMT

No its not forbidden to ask questions about homework, but normally we expect people to try the homework themselves and show us what they tried.

However, when two different people have the exact same data and requirements, we get suspicious, this sure seems like homework. If it is homework, it is a terrible assignment and if an instructor said to do this with macro variables as shown, the instructor ought not to be an instructor.

Re: Macro vars

DaveStar — Sun, 27 Oct 2019 18:14:51 GMT

So, as I can see the best solution is :

data w;
a=&m0;
b=&m1;
c=&m2;
d=&m3;
e=&m4;

f=&m5;
run;

and then to use proc transpose to define a data set with one column.

True?

Re: Macro vars

PaigeMiller — Sun, 27 Oct 2019 18:20:44 GMT

@DaveStar wrote:

So, as I can see the best solution is :

data w;
a=&m0;
b=&m1;
c=&m2;
d=&m3;
e=&m4;

f=&m5;
run;

and then to use proc transpose to define a data set with one column.

True?

There is no need to use macro variables here. There is no need to PROC TRANSPOSE.

Why are you insisting on using macro variables in a data step this way?

Just enter the data into the data step (after the CARDS statement), with no macro variables.

Re: Macro vars

DaveStar — Sun, 27 Oct 2019 18:22:33 GMT

I think that you don't understand the issue.

I know how to enter values directly into data step.

In this case the macro parameters are values that I get from "external code" of my friends at work.

So....I am using these values to create a data set.

Instead of writing it manually every day (Which can cause errors due to typing errors) I want to know how to create a data set from these values

Dave

Re: Macro vars

DaveStar — Sun, 27 Oct 2019 18:24:21 GMT

Of course, I agree for every word.

Before asking a question I am trying to solve it by myself.

Moreover, I am trying to learn from more experienced people.

Thank you for your advice anyway.

And....take life more easy. It is still not so bad 🙂

Re: Macro vars

PaigeMiller — Sun, 27 Oct 2019 18:27:57 GMT

Use a SAS data set to transfer data. Or, use a text or CSV file to transfer data.

Re: Macro vars

DaveStar — Sun, 27 Oct 2019 18:25:47 GMT

Your answer is similar to following question:

Question:What is the best diet?

answer: Not eating

Re: Macro vars

VDD — Sun, 27 Oct 2019 19:00:26 GMT

this looks like the macro variable I setup at work about 19 years ago because of the length of 4 and back then variables could only be 8 char in length. Smiles %) I would strongly suggest @DaveStar to talking to your friends at work on how to handle your teams requirements....