topic Re: How to use macro %if %then; %else;? in SAS Programming

How to use macro %if %then; %else;?

cwpark — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 21:27:54 GMT

Hello,

I'm trying to use macro %if %then; %else; for a numeric operand, and I'd appreciate if anyone could let me know how to do it. I would like to create a new variable named "status" to indicate whether it is "serious" or "moderate."

%macro Serious_Smoker(serious) /store;

%let Serious_Smoker = %upcase(&serious);

%if &PctSmokers > 35 %then

%do;

title 'Results for Serious Smoker Population (>35%)';

Status = "Serious";

run;

%end;

%else

%do;

title 'Results for Moderate Smoker Population (<=35%)';

Status = "Moderate";

run;

%end;

%mend Serious_Smoker;

%Serious_Smoker;

I got error messages:

ERROR: A character operand was found in the %EVAL function or %IF condition where a numeric

operand is required. The condition was: &PctSmokers > 35

ERROR: The macro SERIOUS_SMOKER will stop executing.

Thank you very much for your help in advance!

Re: How to use macro %if %then; %else;?

Astounding — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 21:31:41 GMT

The macro language processor applies %EVAL to all %IF conditions. In this case, I would guess that the value for &PctSmokers contains a decimal point, and %EVAL can't handle a decimal point. But a slightly different function can. Switch to:

%if %sysevalf(&PctSmokers > 35) %then

%do;

The parentheses really are in the proper place here.

Re: How to use macro %if %then; %else;?

art297 — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 21:54:23 GMT

I have a number of questions.

Your macro only has one parameter (i.e., serious), but when you call the macro you don't provide a value for the macro variable SERIOUS.

Then, in your macro, you check to see if &PctSmokers is greater than 35. Where did you declare that macro variable?

Third, you have a line of code that sets the value of a non-macro variable called SERIOUS. That code would only work if it is called from within a data step.

Art, CEO, AnalystFinder.com

Re: How to use macro %if %then; %else;?

cwpark — Wed, 21 Jun 2017 01:40:49 GMT

Thank you for your reply. PctSmokers are continuous variable that has no decimal points.

The number of dataset that I input are three: PctSmokers (continuous), income (categorical), and age (categorical).

In addition to that, I would like to add "Status" variable in the macro "if then" statements. I think I need a numeric operand for local macro variable "serious" and also need to figure out how to create "Status" variable.

How do I seprately display >35% and <=35% smoker population?

Re: How to use macro %if %then; %else;?

cwpark — Wed, 21 Jun 2017 01:45:17 GMT

Thanks for your help!

I set 'serious' as a local macro variable. There are three variable in the original dataset: PctSmokers, income, and age. Depending on PctSmokers, I'd want to see two divided results: serious smoker population vs moderate smoker population, by using %if %then macro statement.

I think I need to use a function for numeric operand, not "upcase," and I'm figuring out what it is.

Re: How to use macro %if %then; %else;?

art297 — Wed, 21 Jun 2017 01:47:26 GMT

It would help if you provide some example datasets, all of your code, and a brief explanation of what you are trying to do. A macro may not even be needed.

Art, CEO, AnalystFinder.com

Re: How to use macro %if %then; %else;?

cwpark — Wed, 21 Jun 2017 01:58:43 GMT

The dataset example is:

data smoker;
input PctSmokers Income $ Age $;
datalines;
45 1 1
35 2 2
14 5 3
27 1 1
20 2 2

I'd want to see two different results: Results for Serious Smoker Population (>35%) and Results for Moderate Smoker Population (<=35%), by adding "Status" variable saying "Serious" for >35% and "Moderate" for <=35%.

I know I don't need to use macro, but I'd like to approach more complicated dataset soon by knowing how to use macro with if then statement. Thanks!

Re: How to use macro %if %then; %else;?

art297 — Wed, 21 Jun 2017 02:43:19 GMT

I agree with the importance of learning how to write macros, but I'm not sure how a macro could help you here. Here are two non-macro approaches:

data smoker;
input PctSmokers Income $ Age $; 
datalines; 
45 1 1
35 2 2
14 5 3
27 1 1
20 2 2
;

data want;
  set smoker;
  length Status $8;
  if PctSmokers>35 then Status="Serious";
  else if 0<=PctSmokers<=35 then Status="Moderate";
run;

proc format;
  value status
  low-35='Moderate'
  36-High='Serious'
  ;
run;

proc print data=smoker;
  format PctSmokers status.;
run;

Art, CEO, AnalystFinder.com

Re: How to use macro %if %then; %else;?

cwpark — Wed, 21 Jun 2017 15:50:05 GMT

Thank you very much!