Quote Macro Input Data Set

[PeterPanPan]

I want to check if there's a certain variable named "ABC"  in the input data set. I can realize it using the following data step:

data want;

set have;

dsid=open('have');

check=varnum(dsid,'ABC');

run;

I will check 'check' and use it for further programming. Now I want to realize the same function using a macro. I have tried the following but it didn't work.

%macro test(&input);

data want;

set &input;

dsid=open('&input');                       *The problem might be here;

check=varnum(dsid,'ABC');

run;

%mend;

%test(xxxx)

Does anyone offer some help? Thank you so much!

[Reeza · Accepted solution]

macro variables only result inside double quotes, not single quotes.

Change to double quotes.

You may also want to consider looking at capturing the outputs of proc contents or querying the dictionary table instead. These are especially useful when your data is large.

[PeterPanPan]

Thank you

[SASKiwi]

Use double quotes so your &input will resolve: "&input"