topic ERROR: Expecting an arithmetic expression. in SAS Programming

ERROR: Expecting an arithmetic expression.

lizhehong — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 19:17:48 GMT

Can anyone help to look what wrong with the program below?

I keep getting error message like

ERROR 386-185: Expecting an arithmetic expression.

ERROR 76-322: Syntax error, statement will be ignored.

ERROR 202-322: The option or parameter is not recognized and will be ignored.

data try;
     input var1 var2 var3;
     datalines;
     7 2 2
     5 5 3
     7 2 7
;
%macro test;   %let tt=try;
data try2;
     set try;
     %bquote(dsid)=open(%str(%')&tt%str(%'));
     if varnum(%bquote(dsid),'var4') = 0 then var4 = .;
run;

%mend;
%test;

Thansk a lot!!

Re: ERROR: Expecting an arithmetic expression.

Astounding — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 20:05:17 GMT

First, you have to realize that %bquote does nothing in your program. The quoted version of the letters "dsid" is still "dsid". Second, it is highly suspicious that you are trying to open a data set that is already open because it is mentioned in the SET statement. What would you get if you tried this program, eliminating the confusion caused by adding macro language?

data try2;

set try;

dsid = open('try');

run;

The results may answer your other questions.

Good luck.

Re: ERROR: Expecting an arithmetic expression.

lizhehong — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 20:20:00 GMT

Thank you Astounding! this is just part of my program. I have to put a macro variable in open('&dat').

Re: ERROR: Expecting an arithmetic expression.

Astounding — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 20:43:22 GMT

Then this should make your life much easier. Switch to double quotes ... it's %str that is causing the problem:

dsid = open("&tt");

Re: ERROR: Expecting an arithmetic expression.

lizhehong — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 21:12:18 GMT

The issue is solved. I thought I have to use single quote in it :smileyblush: Thank you so much!!!!