adding a list of values as a parameter in a macro

[Jens89]

I'm looking to enter a list of values as a parameter in a macro.

eg:

%macro test(list_of_values);

data analysis;
     set file;
     where numbers in (&list_of_values);
run;

%mend;

So then I can enter something like

%test((100,101,102))

it's not always 3 numbers, it could also be 2 or 4. the list of values is also not the only parameter. I have some more in my code but the list would be one of them

[ed_sas_member · Accepted solution]

Hi @Jens89 

You can replace commas by spaces in the in operator parenthesis.

I have added the input dataset as another parameter to show you how to write the code :

%macro test(list_of_values,dataset);

data analysis;
     set &dataset;
where numbers in (&list_of_values);
run;

%mend;
 
%test(100 101 102, file)

You can also use the %str function if you want to mask commas:

%test(%str(100 101 102),file)

[Jens89]

that's beautiful! thanks 

[ed_sas_member]

Thank you @Jens89 !

[novinosrin]

Hi @Jens89   just quote the values to make the macro processor treat the commas as text rather than a separator of positional parameters or use keyword parameters with =

For example

%test(%bquote(100,101,102))

%test(list_of_values=100,101,102))

[ballardw]

If you are going to do such things frequently you may want to investigate the macro option PARMBUFF as well.

My online help even shows the PARMBUFF used with a comma delimited list.

If you use PARMBUFF with other parameters the PARMBUFF values must be the last parameter passed.

You will likely still need to parse/loop over the values for some uses.

You might try:

%macro test /parmbuff;

data analysis;
     set file;
     where numbers in &syspbuff.;
run;

%mend;

%test (100, 101, 102)

Note that the () are part of the parameter used this way. Also the Parmbuff option populates a special macro variable SYSPBUFF.