%sysfunc -> store value in table

[Cello23]

Hi,

i have write this macro:

%macro date_loop(start,end);
   %let start=%sysfunc(inputn(&start,DATETIME16.));
   %let end=%sysfunc(inputn(&end,DATETIME16.));
   %let dif=%sysfunc(intck(HOUR,&start,&end));
     %do i=0 %to &dif;
      %let date=%sysfunc(intnx(HOUR,&start,&i,b),DATETIME16.);
      %put &date;


	data LDS.aA01_PROVA;
    TM_INS_C = &date ;
	FORMAT TM_INS_C DATETIME16.;
 	run;

 
     %end;
   %mend date_loop;

   %date_loop(01JAN19:00:00:00,01JAN19:00:01:59);

I need to store the value of variabile &date  in table LDS.aA01_PROVA, but i recived this error:

8986  %macro date_loop(start,end);
8987     %let start=%sysfunc(inputn(&start,DATETIME16.));
8988     %let end=%sysfunc(inputn(&end,DATETIME16.));
8989     %let dif=%sysfunc(intck(HOUR,&start,&end));
8990       %do i=0 %to &dif;
8991        %let date=%sysfunc(intnx(HOUR,&start,&i,b),DATETIME16.);
8992        %put &date;
8993
8994
8995      data LDS.aA01_PROVA;
8996      TM_INS_C = &date ;
8997      FORMAT TM_INS_C DATETIME16.;
8998      run;
8999
9000
9001
9002
9003       %end;
9004     %mend date_loop;
9005
9006     %date_loop(01JAN19:00:00:00,01JAN19:00:01:59);
01JAN19:00:00:00

NOTE: The SAS System stopped processing this step because of errors.
WARNING: The data set LDS.AA01_PROVA may be incomplete.  When this step was stopped there were 0
         observations and 1 variables.
WARNING: Data set LDS.AA01_PROVA was not replaced because this step was stopped.
NOTE: DATA statement used (Total process time):
      real time           0.11 seconds
      cpu time            0.04 seconds

NOTE: Line generated by the macro variable "DATE".
1      01JAN19:00:00:00
         -----
         388
         76

ERROR 388-185: Expecting an arithmetic operator.

ERROR 76-322: Syntax error, statement will be ignored.

What is my mistake ?

thank's much!

[PaigeMiller]

No need to format your macro variable as human readable dates. In fact, that is the cause of the error you got.

%macro date_loop(start,end);
    %let dif=%sysfunc(intck(HOUR,"&start"dt,"&end"dt));
    %do i=0 %to &dif;
        %let date=%sysfunc(intnx(HOUR,&start,&i,b));
        %put &=date;

        data LDS.aA01_PROVA;
            TM_INS_C = &date ;
            FORMAT TM_INS_C DATETIME16.;
        run;
    %end;
%mend date_loop;
%date_loop(01JAN19:00:00:00,01JAN19:00:01:59)

[Cello23]

THANK'S

[Astounding · Accepted solution]

To elaborate on what @PaigeMiller is saying and the impact it has, look at the results of the %PUT statement on line 8992.  It generates:

01JAN19:00:00:00

Then look at how you use the macro variable later, on line 8996:

TM_INS_C = &date ;

 That generates an erroneous SAS statement:

TM_INS_C = 01JAN19:00:00:00 ;

That's where you get the error message.  One proper version of the statement would be:

TM_INS_C = "&date"dt ;

Or, as @PaigeMiller mentioned, you could just leave &DATE unformatted, holding the proper numeric value that could be assigned using:

TM_INS_C = &date ;

[Cello23]

THANK'S SO MUCH!!