topic Re: Macro (remove space within a variable) in SAS Programming

Macro (remove space within a variable)

pawandh — Sat, 14 Oct 2017 06:33:42 GMT

I want to create a data set with following macro variable.

%let x =credit data;

data &x._&sysdate9.;

set t;

run;

Getting error, can not we remove the space within a macro variable by using some function?

Re: Macro (remove space within a variable)

ChrisBrooks — Sat, 14 Oct 2017 07:28:39 GMT

You can remove the space like this (note that you need to remove the dot before _&sysdate9

%let x =credit data;
 
data %sysfunc(compress(&x))_&sysdate9.;
set sashelp.class;
run;

Re: Macro (remove space within a variable)

Shmuel — Sat, 14 Oct 2017 08:23:08 GMT

DATA statement defines input dataset name in a format of <libref>.<DatasetName>.

LIBREF is defined by LIBNAME <libref> "path to data" and is limited to SAS names rules:

taken from http://support.sas.com/documentation/cdl/en/lrdict/64316/HTML/default/viewer.htm#a000214133.htm

libref

is a shortcut name or a "nickname" for the aggregate storage location where your SAS files are stored. It is any SAS name when you are assigning a new libref. When you are disassociating a libref from a SAS library or when you are listing attributes, specify a libref that was previously assigned.

Range:	1 to 8 characters
Tip:	The association between a libref and a SAS library lasts only for the duration of the SAS session or until you change it or discontinue it with another LIBNAME statement.

therefore, as compressed &x is 'CreditData' - 10 characters long, it will end with error - illegal libref name.

Re: Macro (remove space within a variable)

Patrick — Sat, 14 Oct 2017 09:32:55 GMT

@Shmuel

I believe you've missed that the dot after &x will be consumed by the macro processor and though &x becomes part of the table name which can be up to 32 characters.

@ChrisBrooks code looks like a suitable solution to me.