Can SAS Write the text of an Error Message to a field?

[texasmfp]

A program I run frequently generates two ERROR messages.  Is there a way to have the message written to a variable and saved in a database?  Note that I am looking for the actual text of the ERROR message to be written to a variable.  For example:

ERROR: Incomplete JSON in input

I'd like to save the string "Incomplete JSON in input" as the value in a field, call it errorlog.

Thanks

[Kurt_Bremser]

Look at the SYSERRORTEXT automatic macro variable.

[texasmfp]

Thanks Kurt.  While that is a neat tidbit, it seems to only put the 2nd line of the 2-line error message.  For example, when I get the following error

ERROR: Incomplete JSON in input

ERROR: Error in the LIBNAME statement.

%put &syserrortext; only prints the 2nd of the two lines in the log

SYMBOLGEN: Macro variable SYSERRORTEXT resolves to Error in the LIBNAME statement.
Error in the LIBNAME statement.

Unfortunately, I am trying to distinguish between two different errors, but each has the same 2nd message.

ERROR: Incomplete JSON in input

ERROR: Error in the LIBNAME statement.

versus

ERROR: Physical file does not exist, e:\SAS Temporary Files\_TD10912_DESKTOP-575EP3T_\#LN01301.

ERROR: Error in the LIBNAME statement.

[Kurt_Bremser]

That will be a problem with steps causing more than one message, as the macro variable always displays the last message only.

I can only propose two workarounds:

• check the automatic macro variables SYSCC and SYSERR to see which codes are set when your "target problem" arises. From these you can then possibly deduct the ERROR text.
• if this has to be done for batch programs, check the log file after the program ends for the text and, if encountered, run a quick SAS program that adds the program name and message to a dataset. Basically, do a simple log file parsing.

[texasmfp · Accepted solution]

Kurt:  neither of those will work, but there is yet another system variable that appears to work:  &syslibrc appears to generate different values for the two errors.  Thanks