topic Re: intnx function in a macro variable in SAS Programming

intnx function in a macro variable

Rakeon — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 08:39:27 GMT

Hi,

use the intnx function in a macro variable:

%let start = %sysfunc(intnx(MONTH,%sysfunc(today()),-1,SAME),DDMMYYS10.);

It, works...but I would like to know if is there another way to do the same operation?

Re: intnx function in a macro variable

Kurt_Bremser — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 08:45:38 GMT

My preferrred method is to use a data _null_ step and call symput:

data _null_;
start = intnx('MONTH',today(),-1,'SAME');
call symput('start',put(start,DDMMYYS10.));
run;

So all the calculations are done in pure data step language and easier to read, because you don't have to care for all the %sysfunc's.

Re: intnx function in a macro variable

Rakeon — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 08:48:06 GMT

Thanks,

but I need to use it outside the data step, because I write the main program.

Re: intnx function in a macro variable

Kurt_Bremser — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 08:55:41 GMT

My data _null_ step delivers eactly the same result that your %let does.

Keep this in mind:

if you write a %let in a data step, it will not be executed in the data step (!!!). Instead it will be executed upon the fetching of the code, so logically it is the same as if you wrote it immediately before the data step.

BTW, what do you mean by "main program"?

Re: intnx function in a macro variable

Rakeon — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 09:08:57 GMT

Yes,

thank for you answer and for your help,

for me,

the main Program is a file where I put all important macro variable and the libname for the path of several programs *.sas

Re: intnx function in a macro variable

Kurt_Bremser — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 09:11:44 GMT

You can use my data step in that main program.

I guess you will %include that in all your programs or autoexec's. Data steps in %include'd files will work just as if they were written directly in the calling program.

Re: intnx function in a macro variable

Rakeon — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 09:17:14 GMT

Ah,

ok thanks!!

Re: intnx function in a macro variable

Kurt_Bremser — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 09:32:01 GMT

To further elaborate:

%include is a macro (pre-processor) statement. As soon as it is encountered, the included file is read and placed in the input buffer of the SAS interpreter in place of the %include statement. So you can use any SAS code in a file that is to be %include'd.

It's just that, after the include is performed, the resulting code needs to be syntactically correct and make sense.