create names for multiple htms using SAS macro

[tipscode]

I would like to name the title of a html output using a sas macro that will run with a do loop for multiple iterations in SAS 9.4:

The current code is %macro test (st,xst1);

                               .....

                               %mend test;

                followed by, e.g., %test ('CA',CA15);

                                            run;

The dataset where the table (in HTML format) will be output has the following where statement: 

                                where statefip IN (&st); 

There is a year variable where there are observations with '15 values. Is there a way that I can draw this information out as a macro variable to apply for all files?

I am confused about the logic behind "xst1".

Thank you in advance for any comments and suggestions!

[Astounding]

It sounds like you need more experience with macro language, to figure out what it is doing.

Look through your macro, with these guidelines:

• Any time you see &ST (or &st) picture it as being replaced by the 4 characters 'CA'
• Any time  you see &XST1 (or &xst1) picture it as being replaced by the 4 characters CA15

Whatever SAS program results from those text substitutions, that is the program that is running.

Obviously, there is more to macro language than this.  But that's a good starting point. 

[tipscode]

Thank you! Follow-up question: Does single quotes or double quotes matter for 'CA'?

I have been going through past articles from Art Carpenter and think that his macro reference would help for this and other tasks. Are there any other references that I can read up on?

[Astounding]

Single vs. double quotes in 'CA' probably make no difference.  It depends on what the SAS statement looks like after substituting those 4 characters for &ST.

As a general rule, single vs. double quotes make a big difference when referring to a macro variable.  Single quotes suppress all macro activity.  So:

"&xst1" will resolve and become "CA15"

But:

'&xst1' will not resolve and will remain '&xst1'

There are dozens of papers out there on macro language.  Art's book is good, but you can get started today with a little searching without having to wait for a book to arrive.

[Cynthia_sas]

Here's a paper to get you started: https://support.sas.com/resources/papers/proceedings13/120-2013.pdf and also http://www2.sas.com/proceedings/sugi28/056-28.pdf .

cynthia

[tipscode]

Thank you Cynthia.