topic Re: Variable names in tables in SAS Programming

Variable names in tables

JeffM1968 — Sun, 03 May 2020 23:30:59 GMT

Howdy,

I am trying to use a variable in the middle of a table name. Is this doable? I am assuming yes. Can someone help me with the correct syntax? I tried it with/without the period and I get an error.

Thanks

Jeff

CREATE TABLE WORK.&Industry._01 AS

Re: Variable names in tables

PaigeMiller — Mon, 04 May 2020 00:08:13 GMT

Much more information is needed:

What is the value of &industry?
What is the exact word-for-word error message?
Can you send me some bacon?

Re: Variable names in tables

JeffM1968 — Mon, 04 May 2020 00:16:25 GMT

&Industry = Tech

Re: Variable names in tables

PaigeMiller — Mon, 04 May 2020 00:25:21 GMT

You need to use the dot after &VARIABLE. The is no underscore immediately before &VARIABLE.

Re: Variable names in tables

sustagens — Mon, 04 May 2020 03:03:55 GMT

If you are just creating the table in the temporary WORK library, try removing "WORK." you can do away without specifying it in front of your table name.

There needs to be a period after the &variable_name. because there is a suffix after it.

It may also be worthwhile checking the line where Industry is assigned a value.

All of the following variations work:

%let Industry=Tech;
%put &=Industry;

proc sql;

/*create table WORK._&Industry._01 as */
/*create table _&Industry._01 as */

/*create table WORK.&Industry._01 as */
/*create table &Industry._01 as */

select * from sashelp.cars;
quit;

Re: Variable names in tables

Reeza — Mon, 04 May 2020 04:26:57 GMT

Check how your macro variable is being created and resolved. You may have some spaces after it causing it to resolve as:

 WORK.TECH      _01 AS

You can check by using the appropriate debugging options and seeing this in your log:

options mprint symbolgen;

If this is the case, you can fix it by using CALL SYMPUTX() (note the X) or TRIMMED option if you're creating the macro variable via SQL which will remove the trailing spaces.

Re: Variable names in tables

JeffM1968 — Mon, 04 May 2020 11:09:13 GMT

All of these tidbits did the trick.

Thanks!!