Combining a Macro with a Proc Freq

[ChickenLittle]

I need to run a proc freq for every code in a long list. Is there a macro that can be used to do this? 

For example, I need the following proc freq to run over and over again, each time replacing FieldName1.

Need to run proc freq for 'XYZ', 'ABC', 'R2D2', ..., etc. 

proc freq data=table;
where FieldName1= 'XYZ';
tables FieldName1*FieldName2 / norow nocol nopercent missing;
run;

proc freq data=table;
where FieldName1= 'ABC';
tables FieldName1*FieldName2 / norow nocol nopercent missing;
run;

proc freq data=table;
where FieldName1= 'R2D2';
tables FieldName1*FieldName2 / norow nocol nopercent missing;
run;

And so and forth for a long list of these codes.

[Kurt_Bremser]

So you have variables xyz, abc and r2d2 in your dataset?

[ChickenLittle]

I have a long list of codes I need to run a proc freq on. So my example, I need a proc freq run on 'XYZ' and then another proc freq run on 'ABC' and then another proc freq run on 'r2d2' and so on and so forth.

[PaigeMiller]

---

@ChickenLittle wrote:
I have a long list of codes I need to run a proc freq on. So my example, I need a proc freq run on 'XYZ' and then another proc freq run on 'ABC' and then another proc freq run on 'r2d2' and so on and so forth.

---

But this doesn't sound like a macro, this sounds like a BY statement.

[ChickenLittle]

Hi, Thank you for your response. I don't think it's a by statement. I have updated my original post to be clearer. Thanks.

[PaigeMiller]

So, @ChickenLittle, there are two lessons here, both of which I have tried to say

1. Don't tell us you need a macro. Tell us what you are trying to do (the big picture, the purpose of the analysis)

2. If you think you need a macro, show us code that does what you want without macros and without macro variables.

[Kurt_Bremser · Accepted solution]

%let values = "ABC","DEF","R2D2";

proc sort data=table;
by fieldname1;
run;

proc freq data=table (where=(fieldname1 in (&values.))),
by fieldname1;
tables fieldname2;
run;

[ChickenLittle]

Thanks so much!!

[PaigeMiller]

---

@ChickenLittle wrote:

Is there a macro that can be used on proc freq to generate a frequency table for each variable in a list (it is a long list of codes)? For example, I was thinking of something like this, but his does not work.

%let Values = 'XYZ','ABC','R2D2' ;

proc freq data=table;
where FieldName1= %Values. ;
tables FieldName1*FieldName2
/ norow nocol nopercent missing;
run;

---

Your description in words, and your code, do not match. You say "to generate a frequency table for each variable in a list" but then you generate a two-way frequency table of FieldName1*FieldName2 and the list isn't used to create frequency tables. Which is it?

You then put the list into a WHERE statement. Would a BY statement work here where you generate FieldName1*FieldName2 for each value in the list?

This will never work:

where FieldName1= %Values. ;

and also demonstrates a poor approach to writing macros. A much better approach: produce WORKING code without macro and without macro variables first, before you try to create a working macro. Why? Because if your code without macros and without macro variables does not work, then the code for macros will never work either.

So, please please please, show us WORKING code without macros and without macro variables for one of the many situations that you envision this will need to work on. Showing us code that works also will clear up the confusion I felt when your original question wording did not match the code.

Lastly, please describe the big picture, the real problem here. What and why? (The real problem is not that you want a macro to work with PROC FREQ, the real problem is that you want to achieve some goal and produce some analysis, that's what I am asking for) Often macros are not needed, so don't start with saying you need a macro.

[Quentin]

Agree with @PaigeMiller , this sounds like a BY-statement. You didn't post sample data, but consider a BY statement like:

proc freq data=sashelp.cars ;
  tables type*drivetrain/norow nocol nopercent missing ;
  by make ;
run ;

So with your pseudocode, try running:

proc freq data=table;
  tables FieldName1*FieldName2 / norow nocol nopercent missing;
  by FieldName1;
run;

and if that doesn't give you the output you want, please describe how the output you want differs.

[ChickenLittle]

Thank you for taking out the time to provide examples. You were right, it was a by statement, but I needed to feed the specific FieldNames1 I wanted. I've got the answer now from another post. Thanks so much!!