topic Re: reading multiple variable with a prefix at once in a MACRO in SAS Programming

reading multiple variable with a prefix at once in a MACRO

Emma_at_SAS — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 16:59:51 GMT

I wrote a macro and not I want to run it for several variables. Some variables have the same prefix for example

var_name_d1

var_name_d2

var_name_d3

var_name_d4

var_name_d99

var_name_d999

I am not sure if they are in the same order in the dataset or if some other column may be in between these columns.

1- Can I write a short form to feed these 6 variables to my macro at one step?

2- If yes, how may I do that?

Thanks

Re: reading multiple variable with a prefix at once in a MACRO

PaigeMiller — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 17:05:06 GMT

Without seeing the macro you wrote, it's nearly impossible to give you advice. What does the macro do?

Re: reading multiple variable with a prefix at once in a MACRO

Kurt_Bremser — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 17:08:31 GMT

No. The macro processor only deals with code, but the structures of datasets (and therefore the variables) become only evident when the code (created by the macro) later runs.

But you can build a macro variable from dictionary.columns that contains all the variable names and can be used as a macro parameter.

Re: reading multiple variable with a prefix at once in a MACRO

Reeza — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 17:22:33 GMT

Look into CALL EXECUTE for ways to automate your macro call.

Re: reading multiple variable with a prefix at once in a MACRO

Tom — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 17:24:15 GMT

Sounds like you need to either modify your macro or create a new one to call the old one.

So assume your macro calls to the old macro look like %old(dsn=sashelp.class,var=height) then your new code could look like this. (Note the macro wrapper is not really needed).

%macro new(prefix,dsname);
proc contents data=&dsn(keep=&prefix:) noprint out=names(keep=name); run;
data _null_;
  set names ;
  call execute(cats('%nrstr(%old)(dsn=',"&dsn",',var=',nliteral(name),')'));
run;
%mend;

Re: reading multiple variable with a prefix at once in a MACRO

Emma_at_SAS — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 17:37:08 GMT

Thank you, PaigeMiller. Based on the next suggestions, I noticed what you mean.
Thanks

Re: reading multiple variable with a prefix at once in a MACRO

Emma_at_SAS — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 17:40:30 GMT

Thank you everyone!

Re: reading multiple variable with a prefix at once in a MACRO

PaigeMiller — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 17:42:46 GMT

@Emma_at_SAS wrote:
Thank you, PaigeMiller. Based on the next suggestions, I noticed what you mean.
Thanks

Depending on what you are doing, the solution marked correct (from @Tom ) may be overkill. You may not need a loop or CALL EXECUTE at all, depending on what analysis you are doing with these variables.