%let to create txt files

[astha8882000]

Hello,

I'm trying to run this piece of code, it does not produce any errors but does not give any output either, so I'm unable to understand what it is meant to do:

%let files=\\shared drive path\temp\abc\*.txt;

%macro disp (var);

     %sysrput &var = &&&var.;

%mend;

%disp(files);

I had a few questions, and would really appreciate if you could help me understand:

1. %let files command creates the folder abc in that location if it doesn't exist and also creates some txt files? Or is it just acting as a reference to those .txt files when they might get created in the future?

2. what purpose does the macro disp serve here? Is it to make the location of files global?

[PaigeMiller]

Someone is showing off their ability to write extremely convoluted and extremely unnecessary and unbelievably difficult to understand code.

Nevertheless, use OPTIONS MPRINT; at the start of the code, run it again, as see what the SASLOG shows you.

[Tom]

It generates an error for me.

1    %let files=\\shared drive path\temp\abc\*.txt;
2    %macro disp (var);
3         %sysrput &var = &&&var.;
4    %mend;
5    %disp(files);
ERROR: %SYSRPUT statement is valid only when OPTION DMR is in effect.

It I replace the %SYSRPUT command with a normal %PUT command then it will write this to the log.

files = \\shared drive path\temp\abc\*.txt

Note that this program is not doing anything with any files or directories., just macro variables and their values.

The original program was designed to run in a remote submitted block of code and it would create a macro variable in the calling (local) SAS session with the same name and content as the macro variable that existed in the remote session.

If it ran correctly it would not produce any output or error messages.

[ballardw]

Is the DMR option set? The macro could be failing because the macro parser checks that option before attempting the %SYSRPUT statement.

You would also have to have an active connection to a remote host if I read the documentation correctly. Is one active?