topic Re: macro variable in SAS Programming

macro variable

mauri0623 — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 14:21:31 GMT

I am trying to create a macro variable called raw_pips. When I do it does not getting resolved.

30 data _null_;

31 call symputx('timestamp', put(datetime(), B8601DT.));

32 %let raw_pips = PipsDaily_0123_0100.txt;

33 run;

NOTE: DATA statement used (Total process time):

real time 0.01 seconds

cpu time 0.01 seconds

34 %put &timestamp; &raw_pips;

20200123T091816

NOTE: Line generated by the macro variable "RAW_PIPS".

1 PipsDaily_0123_0100.txt

-----------------------

180

ERROR 180-322: Statement is not valid or it is used out of proper order.

Re: macro variable

Tom — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 14:25:24 GMT

You have an extra semi-colon that is ending the %put statement.

Also you are confusing yourself by inserting a %let in the middle of a data step. Move line 32 out of the data step.

Re: macro variable

PaigeMiller — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 14:44:33 GMT

@mauri0623 wrote:

31 call symputx('timestamp', put(datetime(), B8601DT.));

It is very rare that you need macro variables for calendar or date/time to be formatted, and usually this is a mistake. If you are going to use the macro variable for some comparison to some other date/time value or a calculation to determine a time/day duration from some other date, formatting does not help and usually produces incorrect results. Leave macro variables for calendar dates or date/time values unformatted, except in the case where you want to use them in a title or label.

call symputx('timestamp', datetime());

Re: macro variable

mauri0623 — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 14:51:31 GMT

I was not asking for timestamp. I was asking about how to create raw_pips as a macro variable.