topic Re: macro variable not resolving in a macro in SAS Programming

macro variable not resolving in a macro

dennis_oz — Tue, 12 May 2020 15:09:30 GMT

Hi All,

Can you tell me why my macro variable records is not resolving inside the macro %import_file.

It resolves outside to 3.

********************************************** Please find log***************

27 %macro Import_File(records);

28 %put 'hiiiiiii' %nrstr(&records.) ;

30 %if %nrstr(&records.) > 0 %then

31 %do;

33 data _null_;

34 set wash_file;

35 call symput ('file_date',strip(file_date));

36 call symput ('file_name',strip(file_name));

37 call symput ('file_upload_date',file_upload_date);

38 select (actual_file_name);

40 when ('bbb') rc=dosubl('%Import_StrategicFile(&file_name,&file_upload_date,ee)');

41 when ('ccc') rc=dosubl('%Import_StrategicFile(&file_name,&file_upload_date,ddd)');

42 end;

43 run;

45 %end;

46 %else

47 %do;

49 data _null_;

50 rc=dosubl('%folder_empty_message()');

51 run;

53 %end;

54 %mend;

57 %put &Records;

58 %Import_File(records);

Re: macro variable not resolving in a macro

ed_sas_member — Tue, 12 May 2020 15:12:08 GMT

Hi @dennis_oz

The use of the %nrstr() function prevents the resolution of the macrovariable.

->Remove it and run the code.

Re: macro variable not resolving in a macro

ballardw — Tue, 12 May 2020 15:16:55 GMT

When you have a question about macro code behaving then you want to test your code with the options MPRINT and possibly SYMBOLGEN and MLOGIC to follow the code.

Then read the log for the generated code.

Since your call to the macro does not use the macro variable &records:

57         %put &Records;

3

58         %Import_File(records);  <= NOT THE MACRO VARIABLE &RECORDS

You have passed the text "records" as the parameter. Since the macro has a parameter named Records it will use the local version and not the macro variable "records" created outside of the macro definition.

If you want to use the existing macro value in &records then the call would be

%import(&records)

Really bad practice to expect to expect to use a macro value not passed as a parameter.

Re: macro variable not resolving in a macro

dennis_oz — Tue, 12 May 2020 15:27:09 GMT

😳.my bad

Re: macro variable not resolving in a macro

dennis_oz — Tue, 12 May 2020 15:27:57 GMT

😳..my bad again..

Re: macro variable not resolving in a macro

ed_sas_member — Tue, 12 May 2020 15:33:52 GMT

What if you remove %nrstr() and adapt the macro call as suggested by @ballardw ?

%macro Import_File(3);

Re: macro variable not resolving in a macro

dennis_oz — Wed, 13 May 2020 04:40:29 GMT

it works when those changes are incorporated