Blank spaces with multiple ampersand macro variable

[dcortell]

With the below code I'm having a weird behaviour in the log. According to the ampersand logics, the sequence of compilation for the macro variable derived from the combination

&&&&&&fix2&&&prefix&i

should be the following:

&&&fix2&life0>&p95within0>720.

However in the log of the code below blank spaces are filled in the step where, according to compilation logics, the code should execute the macro variable &p95within0. I need to understand why the compiler is not executing the last macro, filling blanks between the number "0" and the "p95within" prefix

%macro lapses;

%let fix2=p95within;

%do i=1 %to &dist;

proc sort data=not_assigned%cmpres(&&&prefix&i);
by account_id interaction_status_date;
run;


/*** separate sequence using within quantiles ****/
/** count variable created represent the sequence number **/

data not_assigned%cmpres(&&&prefix&i) (drop=lag_prev) ;
set not_assigned%cmpres(&&&prefix&i) ;
format lag_prev date9.;

by account_id ;

lag_prev=lag(prev_inter);

if first.account_id then count=1;

/** if greater the lapse than q95 BUT same date as previous interaction then do
not increase sequence **/

else if lapse_inter_prev > &&&&&&fix2&&&prefix&i and 
lag_prev^=prev_inter then count+1;

run;

%end;

%mend lapses;

%lapses;

/************ LOG ******************/


MLOGIC(LEFT):  Ending execution.
MLOGIC(CMPRES):  Ending execution.
MPRINT(LAPSES):   not_assigned0 ;
MPRINT(LAPSES):   format lag_prev date9.;
MPRINT(LAPSES):   by account_id ;
MPRINT(LAPSES):   lag_prev=lag(prev_inter);
MPRINT(LAPSES):   if first.account_id then count=1;
SYMBOLGEN:  && resolves to &.
SYMBOLGEN:  && resolves to &.
SYMBOLGEN:  && resolves to &.
SYMBOLGEN:  && resolves to &.
SYMBOLGEN:  Macro variable PREFIX resolves to life
SYMBOLGEN:  Macro variable I resolves to 1
SYMBOLGEN:  && resolves to &.
SYMBOLGEN:  Macro variable FIX2 resolves to p95within
SYMBOLGEN:  Macro variable LIFE1 resolves to        0
NOTE: Line generated by the macro variable "LIFE1".
64          &p95within       0
            _
            390
            200
            76
WARNING: Apparent symbolic reference P95WITHIN not resolved.
MPRINT(LAPSES):   else if lapse_inter_prev > &p95within 0 and lag_prev^=prev_inter then count+1;
MPRINT(LAPSES):   run;

ERROR 390-185: Expecting an relational or arithmetic operator.

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

ERROR 76-322: Syntax error, statement will be ignored.

[Kurt_Bremser · Accepted solution]

This

SYMBOLGEN:  Macro variable LIFE1 resolves to        0

is your clue. &life1 contains the blanks. Make sure that it does not contain leading blanks by either doing

%let life1=&life1;

somewhere before you use it, or by using either the strip() or left() function (or the call symputx() routine) when creating it.