topic Re: MACRO parameter - Reading File name in SAS Programming

MACRO parameter - Reading File name

SASAna — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 23:04:33 GMT

Hi SAS users,

I need help with reading a FILENAME from macro parameter & import it. I am able to read the file if i hardcode it in the program, but macro parameter is not working.

%MACRO TESTING(FILENAME=,KEY=,TABLE=);

proc import datafile= '/testpath/&FILENAME' /* this is currently resoving as '/testpath/&FILENAME.xlsx not found */

out=TEST_DATASET
DBMS=XLSX
replace;
run;

DataTest_DS;

set TEST_DATASET;

run;

%MEND;

%TESTING (FILENAME ='TEST_FILE',KEY='GREEN',TABLE=GREEN_TABLE);

Re: MACRO parameter - Reading File name

Quentin — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 23:30:42 GMT

I see two issues:

1. In the macro defintion, you should use double quotes around the file path, i.e. "/testpath/&FILENAME". Macro variables do not resolved inside of single quotes. So currently it is looking for an Excel file that named &FILENAME.xlsx.

2. When you call the macro, you should not put quotes around the values you pass to the FileName parameter. Try:

%TESTING (FILENAME =TEST_FILE,KEY='GREEN',TABLE=GREEN_TABLE);

If you put the quote marks, they become part of the value. And your PROC EXPORT statement would have extra quote marks, so would look like: proc import datafile= "/testpath/'TEST_FILE'"

One way to check these things is to turn on options MPRINT, which will show in the log the SAS code that is generated by the macro. It's very helpful for debuggin macros.

Re: MACRO parameter - Reading File name

SASAna — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 23:43:48 GMT

Small changes but definitely got to learn new things about MACRO's.

Thank you,
Ana