topic Macro variable in the macro name error in SAS Programming

Macro variable in the macro name error

SASAna — Wed, 13 May 2020 01:13:05 GMT

Hi SAS users,

Need a help !

I have a macro that is resolving to client as abc in the log.But when i call that in a macro, i am getting the below error.

client is resolving correctly like example abc.

%macro &client._call (parms = );

ERROR: Invalid macro name &. It should be a valid SAS identifier no longer than 32 characters.
ERROR: A dummy macro will be compiled.

Thanks,

Ana

Re: Macro variable in the macro name error

Tom — Wed, 13 May 2020 01:51:32 GMT

Looks like you are confusing defining a macro and calling a macro. You use the %MACRO statement only when defining the macro. You have to give the macro an actual name when you defined it.

%macro mymacro; ... %mend;

But you could use a macro variable to resolve to the name of the macro you want to call.

%let want_to_call = mymacro;
%&want_to_call;

Re: Macro variable in the macro name error

heffo — Wed, 13 May 2020 01:53:26 GMT

Hi, are you trying do define a macro called abc_call (parms = ) or do you want to call the macro that is called abc_call? I am not sure if you can create a sas macro program name based on macro variables. But, that is just my guess. But, if you want to call a predefined macro based on a macro variable, that seem to be working.

%let client=abc;

%macro abc_call (parms = );
	%put This is the inparameters &=parms;
%mend; 

%&client._call(parms=Hello World);