topic Referencing macro variable SAS Programming 1: Essentials lesson 5 in SAS Programming

Referencing macro variable SAS Programming 1: Essentials lesson 5

Magdalena56 — Tue, 28 Dec 2021 17:30:56 GMT

I have a question regarding the code in lesson 5. There is a macro variable created but when we reference it in the code, why don't we use the double quotation marks to do so ""?

As in:

%let age=13;

proc print data=pg1.class_birthdate;

where age="&age";

run;

Many thanks for your help with understanding this basics!

Re: Referencing macro variable SAS Programming 1: Essentials lesson 5

Astounding — Tue, 28 Dec 2021 19:17:49 GMT

The solution has to do with SAS language, rather than macro language. In SAS language, when AGE is a numeric variable this would be correct:

where age = 13;

This would be incorrect:

where age = "13";

So getting back to your question, use of quotes would be incorrect because it would generate an incorrect WHERE statement.