topic Using a Macro Variable inside a Datastep in SAS Programming

Using a Macro Variable inside a Datastep

Arin — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 20:42:40 GMT

Requirement here is to have a global variable (var1) with a default value (1) that may be manipulated (conditional new value = Y) under 1st datastep (data1) and then to use it under 2nd datastep (_null_) to perform some other action conditionally.

Problem is, under the _null_dataset though var1 is carrying correct value (Y) from data1, it's not satisfying the IF-condition, rather going to ELSE-part.

Here is the code:

%global var1;
%let var1 = 1;

data data1;
var2 = 3;
if var2 = 3 then do;
%let var1 = Y;
end;
run;

proc print data=data1;
run;

%put &var1;

data _null_;
varz= symget('var1');
file OUTF;
put @1 'start';
if varz = Y then do;
   put @1 'yes';
end;
else do;
   put @1 'no';
end;
run;

My expectation is that it should print "yes" from IF-part, not the "no" from ELSE-part.

Re: Using a Macro Variable inside a Datastep

Shmuel — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 21:16:15 GMT

%LET is a declaration statement and can't be used in a data step as you did it.

Instead you can assign a new value to a macro variable by:

IF ..condition.. then

call symput('VAR1' , 'Y');

on next step you are using call symget which is the right thing to do;

Re: Using a Macro Variable inside a Datastep

Arin — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 21:23:11 GMT

@Shmuel Thanks much!