topic Re: Macro variable generating error when calling list in SAS Programming

Macro variable generating error when calling list

Valeidoscope — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 03:02:54 GMT

I am trying to put the words from the List macro into the Objects column in specific scenarios.

Here's an excerpt of the code:

%let A= 16;
%let List= %str(apple,  bee, church)
%put List= &List.;
OPTIONS MPRINT SYMBOLGEN MLOGIC;
data want; set have;
if C= "Yes" then 
do;
Count = &A.;
Objects= &List.;
end;
run;
proc print data= want (obs=10); run;

SYMBOLGEN says that the macro resolves correctly but I get this error when I run my code and the Objects column is not populated:

NOTE: Line generated by the macro variable "List".
1 apple, bee, church
-
22
-
76

ERROR 22-322: Syntax error, expecting one of the following: (, [, {

The under scores are on the comma after the first word.

Any insight or possible solutions are appreciated

Re: Macro variable generating error when calling list

Tom — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 03:40:09 GMT

You need to use the macro language to generate valid SAS language statements.

You set the macro LIST to the string

apple,  bee, church

And then you used it this way:

Objects= &List.;

Which means you tried to run this SAS statement:

Objects= apple,  bee, church;

And that is NOT a valid SAS statement.

What would be a valid SAS statement?

Objects= "apple,  bee, church";

How could you change your macro code so it produces that statement?

Objects= "&List.";

Re: Macro variable generating error when calling list

Valeidoscope — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 12:59:53 GMT

That worked, thank you!