Create dataset with today's date in the name

[gsnidow]

Greetings all.  I'm trying to create an empty dataset with today's date, in date9 format at the beginning of the name, but I can't figure out how to do it.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

%Let today = %sysfunc(date(),date9.);

data otbr."&today_otbr";

length DT_BILL $10.;

length CD_CYCLE BILL_COUNT 8.;

length AT_BILL 8.2.;

run;

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

WARNING: Apparent symbolic reference TODAY_OTBR not resolved.
7984  data otbr."&today_otbr";
           -----
           22
           201
ERROR 22-322: Syntax error, expecting one of the following: a name, a quoted string, /, ;,
              _DATA_, _LAST_, _NULL_.

ERROR 201-322: The option is not recognized and will be ignored.

7985      length DT_BILL $10.;
7986      length CD_CYCLE BILL_COUNT 8.;
7987      length AT_BILL 8.2.;
                         ---
                         352
                            -
                            22
                            200
ERROR 352-185: The length of numeric variables is 3-8.

ERROR 22-322: Syntax error, expecting one of the following: a name, ;, DEFAULT, _ALL_,
              _CHARACTER_, _CHAR_, _NUMERIC_.

ERROR 200-322: The symbol is not recognized and will be ignored.

7988  run;

ERROR: The value &TODAY_OTBR is not a valid SAS name.
NOTE: The SAS System stopped processing this step because of errors.
NOTE: DATA statement used (Total process time):
      real time           0.01 seconds
      cpu time            0.01 seconds

[Haikuo]

From what I can see,

1, you are missing a '.', Try adding it on:

2. Length statement can only take 3-8, not 8.2, that is for format, change that. Also, for numeric variables, the default length is 8, so you can skip all of your length statement.

%Let today = %sysfunc(date(),date9.);

data otbr._&today._otbr;

length DT_BILL $10.;

run;

Haikuo

Update:

3. You can NOT name your table starting with a number. Add something like '_' in front of it.

4. Using quote in data statement will causing error, it is completely unnecessary.

[Linlin]

Haikuo,

Why did you use "" in "&today._otbr"?

[Haikuo]

Right, I overlook that part. Quote is completely unnecessary. Will update my initial response.

Haikuo

[Linlin]

I don't think is a good idea to use "today" as a macro variable.

%Let dsn = %sysfunc(date(),date9.);

data otbr._&dsn._otbr;

[Astounding]

On a side note, I would suggest you switch from DATE9 to YYMMDDN8.  If you are creating a series of data sets, consider what the names will look like.  If you use YYMMDDN8 then the alphabetical order will match the order by creation date.

[gsnidow]

I'm getting closer.

%Let today = %sysfunc(date(),date9.);

data otbr.&today._OTBR;

length DT_BILL $10.;

length CD_CYCLE BILL_COUNT AT_BILL 8.;

run;

This creates the table, but it is creating it in the work library, not otbr.  Also, the name is not how I think the macro variable is resolving.  In the log I see these lines...

8233  %Let today = %sysfunc(date(),date9.);

8234  data otbr.&today._OTBR;

NOTE: Line generated by the macro variable "TODAY".

1      otbr.12SEP2012_OTBR

That makes me think the dataset to be created will be named 12SEP2012_OTBR, and it will be created in the otbr library.  However, when the table is actually created, it is named Sep2012_otbr, and it is in the work library.  Any ideas?

Greg

[gsnidow]

In fact, I don't even need the variable.  This does the *exact* same thing...

data otbr.%sysfunc(date(),date9.)_otbr;

length DT_BILL $10.;

length CD_CYCLE BILL_COUNT AT_BILL 8.;

run;

Still putting it in my work library for some reason.

[Linlin · Accepted solution]

dataset name can't starting with number.

[gsnidow]

DOH!!!  I should have know that, since the same is true for SQL Server.  Thank you so much for that.