topic Re: Help needed in understanding %str function in SAS Programming

Help needed in understanding %str function

knveraraju91 — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 06:27:32 GMT

Dear,

I came across a situation where I used macro variables in my pgm created by using macro function %str. I got error. when I removed %str function I did not get error. Please help me understand. Thank you

I created 4 macro variables. Two using %str function. Other two not. When I run %one macro using macro variables created using %str function. I am getting error. But when i run with other two, I am not. Please help.

%let gm_ba                       = %str(03)                                                              ;
%let gm_snum                     = %str(a0310)                                                      ;
%let gm_ca                       = 03                                                              ;
%let gm_tnum                     = a0310                                                           ;
data aaa;
input a $ b;
datalines;
a 1 
b 2
c 3
;
%macro one;
data c&gm_ba&gm_snum.01;
set aaa;
run;
%mend;

%one;

%macro one;
data c&gm_ca&gm_tnum.01;
set aaa;
run;
%mend;

%one;

Re: Help needed in understanding %str function

ChrisNZ — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 06:52:22 GMT

Always look at the log.

You'll see that quoting the macro variable using %str() adds non-printable characters.

Use the %unquote() function in your data step.

Re: Help needed in understanding %str function

yabwon — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 08:38:19 GMT

Reading this article: https://stats.idre.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/bt185.pdf will help you understand secrets of macro quoting.

All the best

Bart