topic ERROR: A character operand was found in the %EVAL function or %IF condition where a numeric operand is required. in SAS Programming

ERROR: A character operand was found in the %EVAL function or %IF condition where a numeric operand is required.

kingCobra — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 19:23:37 GMT

Hi,

Can anyone help me where I am going wrong with the following code:

%let __tmpmv_dsid = %sysfunc(open(__tmpds_param_check));

%let __tmpmv_num = %sysfunc(varnum(&__tmpmv_dsid,si_unit));

%let __tmpmv_rc = %sysfunc(fetchobs(&__tmpmv_dsid,1));

%let __tmpmv_val = %sysfunc(getvarc(&__tmpmv_dsid,&__tmpmv_num));

%if not &__tmpmv_val %then %do;

%put %str (W)ARNING: SI Unit is not available for parameter: %nrbquote(&param) ;

%put %str (W)ARNING: Raw unit will be used for CTCAE grade computation;

%let errcode = %eval(&errcode + 1);

%let __tmpmv_dsid = %sysfunc(close(&__tmpmv_dsid));

%end;

%else %let __tmpmv_dsid = %sysfunc(close(&__tmpmv_dsid));

I am getting ERROR: A character operand was found in the %EVAL function or %IF condition where a numeric operand is required. The condition was: not &__tmpmv_val

Thanks in advance.

Re: ERROR: A character operand was found in the %EVAL function or %IF condition where a numeric operand is required.

Quentin — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 19:38:36 GMT

What is the value of &__tmpm_val?

%put >>&__tmpmv_val.<< ;

From the message (and your code), since you are using GETVARC, it could a character value. The %IF statement is written as if it expects a Boolean value (0/1), or at least an integer that the macro language could treat as a Boolean.

28   %macro Check(p);
29     %if not &p %then %put true;
30     %else %put false;
31   %mend;
32
33   %check(1)
false
34   %check(0)
true
35   %check(9)
false
36   %check(A)   /*Error*/
ERROR: A character operand was found in the %EVAL function or %IF condition where a numeric
       operand is required. The condition was: not &p
ERROR: The macro CHECK will stop executing.
37   %check(1.)  /*Error: %eval doesnt know about decimals*/
ERROR: A character operand was found in the %EVAL function or %IF condition where a numeric
       operand is required. The condition was: not &p
ERROR: The macro CHECK will stop executing.

Kind Regards,

--Q.

Re: ERROR: A character operand was found in the %EVAL function or %IF condition where a numeric operand is required.

kingCobra — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 20:34:02 GMT

Hi Quentin,

Thanks, for your answer. My &__tmpmv_val is either blank (" ") or a char value (d/L, mg/dL etc).

What is the way out in these cases? Any alternative idea would be great too.

Many thanks,

Re: ERROR: A character operand was found in the %EVAL function or %IF condition where a numeric operand is required.

ballardw — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 21:16:05 GMT

You can check for most BLANK conditions with

%if %sysevalf(%superq(macrovariablename)=,boolean)=1 %then %do

NOTE: the macrovariable name should not use the &macrovariablename format. Look at the documentation of %superq.

Re: ERROR: A character operand was found in the %EVAL function or %IF condition where a numeric operand is required.

Astounding — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 21:51:58 GMT

While there is some debate on the best way, this is the way I prefer to check for blank vs. non-blank:

%if %length(&__tmpmv_val)=0 %then %do;

You can actually find an entire paper devoted to this subject.

Good luck.

Re: ERROR: A character operand was found in the %EVAL function or %IF condition where a numeric operand is required.

Ksharp — Sun, 14 Dec 2014 06:42:32 GMT

%if &__tmpmv_val eq %then.........

Re: ERROR: A character operand was found in the %EVAL function or %IF condition where a numeric operand is required.

kingCobra — Fri, 09 Jan 2015 16:21:51 GMT

Thanks to everyone.