topic Re: translate function in SAS Programming

translate function

Rohit12 — Fri, 27 Jan 2017 09:43:34 GMT

%let aa="bddabc@new.dk" "bddabc@new.dk";

%put &aa;

data new;

zz=translate("&aa","@","$");

run;

NOTE: Line generated by the macro variable "AA".

1 ""bddabc@new.dk" "bddabc@new.dk"

---

216

-----

388

ERROR 216-185: The use of a BIT string constant is not allowed in this context.

ERROR 388-185: Expecting an arithmetic operator.

ERROR 76-322: Syntax error, statement will be ignored.

72 run;

Question : what does this error mean " The use of a BIT string constant is not allowed in this context."

Re: translate function

RW9 — Fri, 27 Jan 2017 09:52:12 GMT

Your error comes from having quotes in your macro variable:

%let aa="bddabc@new.dk" "bddabc@new.dk";

Look at what is generated:

data new;

zz=translate(""bddabc@new.dk" "bddabc@new.dk"","@","$");

run;

See the double quotes?

As always, I advise against putting lists of values in macro variables, data should go in datasets - clue is in the name. And really don't put commas or quotes and things in macro variables at any time.

Re: translate function

Rohit12 — Fri, 27 Jan 2017 10:01:37 GMT

Hello

Actually values in macro variable always will be in double quotes . I am working on some code which is working from long time and I cannot chnage that

Should we have other solution rather than removing double quotes

Thanks!!

Re: translate function

Shmuel — Fri, 27 Jan 2017 10:05:42 GMT

You can overcome the quotes problem by using sysmget function:

%let aa="bddabc@new.dk"  "bddabc@new.dk";

data _null_;
    aa = symget('aa');
    aa = translate(aa,'$','@');
    put aa=;
run;

Re: translate function

Rohit12 — Fri, 27 Jan 2017 10:37:43 GMT

actually I am passing this value bddabc@new.dk" "bddabc@new.dk" as a postional parameter in the macro so I think I cannot use symget

Anyother way of passing this value

Re: translate function

Shmuel — Fri, 27 Jan 2017 10:44:14 GMT

You posted next code:

data new;

zz=translate("&aa","@","$");

run;

you need change one line:

data new;

zz=translate(symget("&aa"),"@","$");

run;

By the way, your macro variable &aa contains already @

if you want to translate it into $ you should write:

zz=translate(symget("&aa"),"$","@");