Apply function to Macro Variable

[tedway]

I have a macro variable and the value has a space in it. I want to keep this but also create a new variable that removes the space.

Here's my example code:

%let var = A B;

%let new_var = compress(&dept);
%put &new_var;

This makes new_var equal to the string "compress(&dept)" but I want new_var to equal "AB."

[Reeza · Accepted solution]

When using functions in a %LET you need to use %SYSFUNC() to tell SAS it's not text, but a function. 

%let dept = A B;

%let new_var = %sysfunc(compress(&dept));
%put &new_var;

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@tedway wrote:

I have a macro variable and the value has a space in it. I want to keep this but also create a new variable that removes the space.

Here's my example code:

%let var = A B;

%let new_var = compress(&dept);
%put &new_var;

This makes new_var equal to the string "compress(&dept)" but I want new_var to equal "AB."

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