topic Re: Dynamic replace function in SAS Programming

Dynamic replace function

bergsorensen — Fri, 29 Nov 2013 13:13:24 GMT

Im trying to create a dynamic function to let me search and replace all coloumns in a specific datasheet.

Im having some trouble with my array.

This is the as-if code:

** Options;

%let search = "P";

%let replace = "A";

** Find coloums;

%macro checklist;

%global columnlist;

%mend;

%checklist

** S&R function;

%macro searchreplace(data);

data &data._new;

set &data;

array varlist{*} &columnlist;

do i = 1 to dim(varlist);

varlist(i)=tranwrd(varlist(i), &search, &replace);

end;

drop i;

run;

%mend;

** Test;

%searchreplace(data=testdata);

---

This is my error log:

30 ** Options;

31 %let search = "P";

32 %let replace = "A";

34 ** Find coloums;

35 %macro checklist;

36 %global columnlist;

37 /* %if &columnlist eq %then %let columnlist=_character_; */

38 %mend checklist;

39 %checklist

41 ** Søg og erstat funktion;

42 %macro searchreplace(data);

43 data &data._ny;

44 set &data;

45 array varlist{*} &columnlist;

46 do i = 1 to dim(varlist);

47 varlist(i)=tranwrd(varlist(i), &search, &replace);

48 end;

49 drop i;

50 run;

51 %mend;

53 ** Kør skidtet;

54 %searchreplace(data=testdata);

ERROR: The array varlist has been defined with zero elements.

ERROR: Too many array subscripts specified for array varlist.

Any input / help would be much appriciated.

Thanks

Kasper

Re: Dynamic replace function

data_null__ — Fri, 29 Nov 2013 13:31:05 GMT

I would make &search &replace and &columnlist parameters of %searchreplace.

I don't get what you are trying to do with %checklist. What options do you wan't to allow for specificaion of the variables(&columnlist) to be processed?

Re: Dynamic replace function

Vince28_Statcan — Fri, 29 Nov 2013 17:29:56 GMT

Throw

options symbolgen;

for debugging. According to your log, COLUMNLIST macro variable was never affected a value as the condition segment is in comments so you tried to define a variable-list array without providing any variables. This should be where your error comes from.

I would also add a columnlist param to the the macro as DN pointed out. you can embed your condition within the macro or do a simple error handling.