How to mask macro trigger

[Arun_shSAS]

%let C=test;



Data a;

input x $;

cards;

LI 

GI 

H&C

;



Proc sql noprint;

select x into: test2 separated by "," from a;

quit;

I want macro variable test2 to be resolved as LI,GI,H&C

[Astounding]

There will likely be headaches down the road, but you should be able to use %SUPERQ. For example:

%put %superq(test2);

[Patrick]

@Arun_shSAS 

Looks like a case for %SUPERQ() or SYMGET().

%let C=test;

data a;
  input x $;
  cards;
LI 
GI 
H&C
;

proc sql noprint;
  select x into :test2 separated by "," from a;
quit;

%put Option_1: %superq(test2);

data _null_;
  Option_2=symget("test2");
  put Option_2=;
run;

[Kurt_Bremser]

The first question that comes to mind is "what for"?

Macro variables are the worst place for keeping data, SAS provides datasets as storage for that.

And if you need reference data for, say, where conditions, it's always better to use a defined key of some kind and not free-form text, which is the worst you can use for such things.