topic Syntax ERROR while passing macro value in SAS Programming

Syntax ERROR while passing macro value

abhinayingole — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 19:48:58 GMT

below is the simple dataset.

input:

Output expected:

I am facing syntax error (screen shot at last) while executing below code .

could someone please help ?

data x;
length val $50;
val = "m1 = strip(put(count,best.)) ;"; count =1; output;
val = "m7 = strip(put(count,10.2))|| '/';"; count =2; output;
run;

proc sql noprint;
select distinct val into: stat separated by " " from x
;

%let stat = %nrbquote(&stat.);
quit;
%put R E S = &stat.;

data x2;
set x;
&stat.;
run;

Re: Syntax ERROR while passing macro value

Tom — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 20:45:35 GMT

Can you show the SAS code you are trying to use the macro processor to create?

Is it something like:

data x2;
  set x;
  m1 = strip(put(count,best.)) ; 
  m7 = strip(put(count,10.2))|| '/';
run;

If so then it is just your attempts to mess with the macro variable that is causing the errors.

To see what the PROC SQL code has created use %superq() macro function.

621   %put %superq(stat);
m1 = strip(put(count,best.)) ; m7 = strip(put(count,10.2))|| '/';

How many observations will X have? Will the generated macro variable get to be longer than 64K bytes?

It might be easier to just write the code to a file instead.

filename code temp;
data _null_;
  set x;
  file code;
  put val;
run;
data x2;
  set x;
%include code / source2;
run;

Plus the SAS log will be easier to read.

Re: Syntax ERROR while passing macro value

SASKiwi — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 20:46:20 GMT

Not sure what's going on with the statement causing the error but try removing the "space". It might be a tab or some other unprintable character. Try this:

val = "m7 = strip(put(count,10.2))!!'/';";

I also suspect there are better ways to do what you want, but since you haven't explained what that is, I'll leave it at that.