topic Re: Using macro variable to rename column in query builder in SAS Enterprise Guide

Using macro variable to rename column in query builder

Ansileran — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 12:57:11 GMT

Hi !

I'm trying to use a macro variable as part of a column name. The main problem is that the query builder encloses the column name in simple quotes, and therefore doesn't recognise the macro variable as such.

Here is what I have :

a macro variable defined by a user prompt (which can be used, I checked) : YEAR
and a column name which should be : "AGE_&YEAR" => AGE_2010, AGE_2011...

If I try this, SAS writes the following code : AS '"AGE_&YEAR"'... Is there a way to remove those simple quotes ? Other than writing a program, I mean...

Thanks !

Re: Using macro variable to rename column in query builder

Patrick — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 00:55:14 GMT

Hi

Tried out what you've described. The code generated looks actually like:
'"AGE_&YEAR"'n

This 'n' means that the string is interpreted as literal. Seems that SAS R&D was quite thoughtful in allowing us to define all kind of variable names but didn't anticipate your use case.
Haven't found any option like "treat variable names as literals" which could be unchecked so I believe the current version of EG's query builder doesn't allow you what you try to do.

You could define the variable label this way though by passing the macro var without quotes: AGE_&YEAR

HTH
Patrick