topic Create a macro array and call a macro for each element in SAS Programming

Create a macro array and call a macro for each element

monty808 — Fri, 22 Jan 2021 22:05:18 GMT

Hi,

I have create a macro array that I want to loop over

proc sql noprint;

select distinct y

into :depvar_list separated by ' '

from med.working_panel_serial_count_y;

quit;

depvar_list = y1 y2 y3 etc

I have a macro that will execute each value

%macro run_arima(dv=);

//stuff to do

%mend run_arima;

How to I tier of the array?

In a real language:

for i in depvar_list:

run_arima(dv=i)

end

So how do I do that in sas ?

Re: Create a macro array and call a macro for each element

ballardw — Fri, 22 Jan 2021 22:27:49 GMT

Here is one example, not the only way, to build a list and loop over the elements in the list

%macro dummy();
Proc sql noprint;
   select distinct sex into :slist separated by ' '
   from sashelp.class
   ;
quit;

%do i = 1 %to %sysfunc(countw(&slist.));
   %let word = %scan(&slist.,&i.);

   Proc print data=sashelp.class noobs;
      where sex="&word.";
   run;
%end;
%mend;


%dummy

The function COUNTW is a data step function and for the macro language to use it must be wrapped in a %sysfunc( ) call.

The proc print is just a simple example of using the "word" or parameter as extracted.

Please be very careful about using phrases like

In a real language:

for i in depvar_list:
     run_arima(dv=i)
end

I know several 'real languages'. Not counting spoken languages, about 15 programming languages and dialects. SAS is just one. I might be insulted by the implication that SAS is not a "real language".

Re: Create a macro array and call a macro for each element

Reeza — Fri, 22 Jan 2021 23:30:55 GMT

This is inefficient code. You should restructure your data and use a single BY statement which means no macros at all.
https://blogs.sas.com/content/iml/2017/02/13/run-1000-regressions.html