topic Re: Reading in multiple datasets in a do-loop in SAS Programming

Reading in multiple datasets in a do-loop

dshills — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 18:05:10 GMT

Hello:

I am trying to read in several SAS datasets for US states, each with a filename that has the format <statename>births i.e. ARnew, AZnew, CAnew,

I have 45 such datasets that I want to combine. I am using a do-loop for this but get an error saying "work.set.data. does not exist". What am I doing wrong?

libname proj '... ';

%let statelist=%str(ak,ar,al,.....wi,wv);

%macro combine;

data test;

%do k=1 %to 45;

%let state=%sysfunc(strip(%sysfunc(scan(&statelist,&k,','))));

set proj.&state.new

%end;

;

run;

%mend;

%combine;

Thanks

Dana

Re: Reading in multiple datasets in a do-loop

ballardw — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 18:28:57 GMT

One thing do check with unexpected macro results is to turn on the macro inspection options:

If you tried:

options mprint;

%combine;

You would likely find in the log:

Set proj.aknew set proj.arnew and so forth.

YOu did not put your SET in the correct place so SAS thinks you are looking for a data set name SET.

Use:

set

%let state=%sysfunc(strip(%sysfunc(scan(&statelist,&k,','))));

proj.&state.new

%end;

; /* now this ; properly closes the SET statement*/

Re: Reading in multiple datasets in a do-loop

dshills — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 18:45:13 GMT

I made the change but this didn't work.

libname proj '... ';

%let statelist=%str(ak,ar,al,.....wi,wv);

%macro combine;

data test;

%do k=1 %to 45;

set

%let state=%sysfunc(strip(%sysfunc(scan(&statelist,&k,','))));

proj.&state.new

%end;

;

run;

%mend;

%combine;

I still get the message

"work.set.data does not exist."

Re: Reading in multiple datasets in a do-loop

Astounding — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 19:15:52 GMT

The word SET does not belong inside the %DO loop. Move it to before the %DO statement, leaving everything else as is.

Re: Reading in multiple datasets in a do-loop

ballardw — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 19:45:28 GMT

copy and paste lost the %do loop. sorry. Yes SET OUTSIDE the do loop per Astounding.

Re: Reading in multiple datasets in a do-loop

dshills — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 20:09:20 GMT

Thank You to ballardw & astounding!