topic Quote Macro Input Data Set in SAS Procedures

Quote Macro Input Data Set

PeterPanPan — Tue, 28 May 2013 23:21:46 GMT

I want to check if there's a certain variable named "ABC" in the input data set. I can realize it using the following data step:

data want;

set have;

dsid=open('have');

check=varnum(dsid,'ABC');

run;

I will check 'check' and use it for further programming. Now I want to realize the same function using a macro. I have tried the following but it didn't work.

%macro test(&input);

data want;

set &input;

dsid=open('&input'); *The problem might be here;

check=varnum(dsid,'ABC');

run;

%mend;

%test(xxxx)

Does anyone offer some help? Thank you so much!

Re: Quote Macro Input Data Set

Reeza — Tue, 28 May 2013 23:47:29 GMT

macro variables only result inside double quotes, not single quotes.

Change to double quotes.

You may also want to consider looking at capturing the outputs of proc contents or querying the dictionary table instead. These are especially useful when your data is large.

Re: Quote Macro Input Data Set

SASKiwi — Tue, 28 May 2013 23:52:47 GMT

Use double quotes so your &input will resolve: "&input"

Re: Quote Macro Input Data Set

PeterPanPan — Tue, 28 May 2013 23:54:37 GMT

Thank you