DO and %DO

[new_sas_user]

What do these two statements Do WITHIN SAS macros? Can these statements be used outside of Macros? Again, is there a helpful site that breaks things down well? I'm still feeling really lost in the SAS pages online.

[Astounding]

You have received poor guidance.  Macro language is not something you should spend your time on, when you are a new SAS user.  If you would like, I can give you a dozen topics that would be a better use of your time.

[ballardw]

%DO is used to control MACRO logic within a defined macro (%macro name; .... %mend;). It can not be used in open code (out side of a macro).

DO is to control code in a datastep and certain computation blocks in procedures such as Proc Report.

[Cynthia_sas]

I discuss this and other topics related to the difference between Data Step programming and Macro programs in this paper: https://support.sas.com/resources/papers/proceedings13/120-2013.pdf

cynthia