understanding macros

[Kormla]

• %if &name=GEORGE %then %let lastname=smith;

If i have the above macros, why did the &name statement used the ampersand & but not %, please help. Thanks.

[Linlin]

because name is a macro variable. You have to use & when you use a macro variable.

[Kormla]

does it mean that name must be userdefined?

[Linlin]

I don't full understand what you mean by "must be userdefined". There are different ways to assign value to macro variable name.

one way is

%let name=GEORGE;

[Kormla]

hi, yes i understand that part, my question is why use this ampersand & in name again

[Linlin]

without "&" SAS does not know "name" is a macro variable.

[Kormla]

ok thank you very much