Data Merge Dynamically

[Kody_devl]

I have this code and it works well (hard coded);

/* Merge Data Tables */

data all_months;

SET data_P1, data_P2 data_P3 data_P4 data_P5 data_P6;

run;

The data tables are built using with a do loop macro based on a user entry of 6 (six periods). 

I want to dynamically be able to enter 6 or 12 or 14 or 24 periods and build this data Merge code for the "SET" portion to accomodate the different period options.

How can I use the number of user entered periods to build the merge statement dynamically?

Many Thanks.

Kody_Devl

[RW9]

Well, I would say that creating multiple datasets in a previous step is a bad idea straight away - hence why you now have this issue.  Generally speaking there is rarely a need to split datasets, just assign a grou value and then do processing as a by group.  Simplifies coding, makes maintenance easier, and makes further coding simpler.

Now if all your datasets have DATA_P prefix, then you could use that:

data want;

  set data_p:;

run;

[LinusH]

First, you are appending, not merging.

Then, you need to build macro logic for this. Perhaps with a %DO loop to generate the data set names dynamically on the SET statement.

[Astounding · Accepted solution]

Given that you follow the naming convention you indicated for your data set names ...

Given that you always want a consecutive set of months ...

there is no need to do any complicated programming.  SAS has already built the capabilities for you.  For example:

data want;

set data_P7 - dataP_24;

run;

[Kody_devl]

This works beautifully.  I just pass in &FPer and &LPer and it is now automaitc.

Thank you

Kody_Devl