topic Re: Pass a parameter in macro in SAS Programming

Pass a parameter in macro

sas_newbie3 — Sun, 26 Feb 2017 21:02:16 GMT

I have a macro paragram.

%macro test(param);
    proc print data=customer;
    where customer_group="&param";
    %if &param=A members %then %do;
        title "the most abudant  group is %upcase(&param)";
    %end;
    %else %do;
        title "the least abudant group is %upcase(&param)";
    %end;
    var name gender age customer_group;
    
run;
%mend test;
options mprint mlogic;

%let least=Internet/Catalog Customers;
%test(&least);

But I get an error:

MPRINT(TEST):   where customer_group="Internet/Catalog Customers";
ERROR: A character operand was found in the %EVAL function or %IF condition where a numeric operand
       is required. The condition was: &param=A members

Re: Pass a parameter in macro

galtay — Sun, 26 Feb 2017 21:07:50 GMT

Have you tried changing

%if &param=A members %then %do;

%if "&param"=A members %then %do;

Re: Pass a parameter in macro

sas_newbie3 — Sun, 26 Feb 2017 21:38:10 GMT

Thanks. It works. I just also wonder if I pass the the variable directly. Say

%test(least);

Rather than

%test(&least);

Is it possible?

Re: Pass a parameter in macro

galtay — Sun, 26 Feb 2017 21:43:17 GMT

dont know. I'm probably more of a SAS newb than you 🙂 I just did a little pattern recognition on your code. In some places the variable had quotes around it and in others it didn't. seemed reasonable to assume that was where the problem was.

Re: Pass a parameter in macro

sas_newbie3 — Sun, 26 Feb 2017 22:01:01 GMT

The reason I asked is I want to reference the parameter into the tite statement.

title "the least abudant group is %upcase(&param)"

I want to replace the word "least" in the title statement with the param as they are same words.

Re: Pass a parameter in macro

rogerjdeangelis — Sun, 26 Feb 2017 23:27:07 GMT

Pass a parameter in macro

When this is resolved Internet/Catalog Customers
your program tries to do a division,

I almost always double quote my macro comparison arguments.


HAVE
====

Up to 40 obs WORK.CUSTOMER total obs=5

Obs     NAME      SEX    CUSTOMER_GROUP

 1     Alfred      M     Store Customers
 2     Alice       F     Store Customers
 3     Barbara     F     Internet/Catalog Customers
 4     Carol       F     Store Customers
 5     Henry       M     Store Customers


WANT
====

the least abudant group is INTERNET/CATALOG CUSTOMERS

Obs     NAME      SEX    AGE          CUSTOMER_GROUP

 3     Barbara     F      13    Internet/Catalog Customers

BUT I GET THE ERRO


MPRINT(TEST):   where customer_group="Internet/Catalog Customers";
ERROR: A character operand was found in the %EVAL function or %IF condition where a numeric operand
       is required. The condition was: &param=A members

WITH THIS CODE
==============

%macro test(param);
    proc print data=customer;
    where customer_group="&param";
    %if &param=A members %then %do;
        title "the most abudant  group is %upcase(&param)";
    %end;
    %else %do;
        title "the least abudant group is %upcase(&param)";
    %end;
    var name gender age customer_group;

run;
%mend test;
options mprint mlogic;
%let least=Internet/Catalog Customers;
%test(&least);


WORKING CODE
============

Change

   %if &param =A members %then %do;

to

  %if "&param" ="A members" %then %do;

Also she need a run;quit;

FULL SOLUTION
=============

data customer( keep=name sex age customer_group);
  set sashelp.class(obs=5);
  if name='Barbara' then customer_group ='Internet/Catalog Customers';
  else customer_group='Store Customers';
run;quit;

%macro test(param);

    proc print data=customer;
    where customer_group="&param";
    %if "&param" ="A members" %then %do;
        title "the most abudant  group is %upcase(&param)";
    %end;
    %else %do;
        title "the least abudant group is %upcase(&param)";
    %end;
    var name sex age customer_group;
    run;quit;
run;
%mend test;


options mprint mlogic;
%let least=Internet/Catalog Customers;
%test(&least);

Re: Pass a parameter in macro

RW9 — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 11:34:31 GMT

I am not sure what the value is in this whole bit of code. The only part which actually changes is the word most or least, so why not evaluate than and drop all the rest of it? E.g.

data _null_;
  call symputx('word',ifc("&param."="A members","most","least"));
run;

title "The &word. abundant group is %upcase(&param.)";

proc print data=customer;
  where customer_group="&param.";
  var name gender age customer_group;
run;