Generalizing a macro to include the data set and its variables

[ilikesas]

Hi,

suppose I have the following macro:

%MACRO sortandprint(sortseq=, sortvar=);

PROC SORT DATA = models;

BY &sortseq &sortvar;

PROC PRINT DATA = models NOOBS;

TITLE 'Current Models';

TITLE2 "Sorted by &sortseq &sortvar";

VAR Model Class Frame Price;

RUN;

%MEND sortandprint;

Is it possible to generalize this macro even further in the following ways:

1) also create a macro variable for the name of the data file so that have the following:

%MACRO sortandprint(datafile=, sortseq=, sortvar=);

PROC SORT DATA = &datafile;

2) put all the variables of the datfile into a list so that get something like the following:

var &varlist

thank you!

[ballardw]

You are on the right path for datafile, it should work as shown. Just remember that you may need to include the library and set: datafile=mylib.thisdataset but that will work. Generally I will make a separate Library reference but that is a style choice as much as anything. Though if you are referencing many sets in the same library it may be more efficient.

Add a parameter varlist to the macro call:

%MACRO sortandprint(datafile=, sortseq=, sortvar=, varlist=);

and call as

%sortandprint(datafile=datasetname, sortseq=, sortvar=, varlist= thisvar thatvar anothervar);

NOTE that the comma delimits the parameters. So the list shouldn't contain commas in general.

If you need at some point to pass the varlist with commas then use

varlist=%str( thisvar, thatvar, anothervar) in the macro call.

[Reeza]

1) Yes - try your code

2) Yes - but also look at _all_ _numeric_ variable lists. You also don't need to specify Var in proc print and then it prints everything.