Delete temporary variable

[shivagujjaru]

Hi guys, I need to delete a temporary variable. Created by using select distinct variable name into: variable1.

How can I delete this variable1 from work lib .

[Kurt_Bremser]

This is not a temporary variable (these can exist in data steps), but a macro variable (select into in SQL creates macro variables).

Use the %symdel statement to remove unwanted macro variables.

[PeterClemmensen]

variable1 is a macro variable.. Google search for "delete macro variable" will give you plenty of answers

[shivagujjaru]

Adding a point Symdel delete global macro variable . But I have created local macro variable. Thanks alot guys

[Tom]

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@shivagujjaru wrote:
Adding a point Symdel delete global macro variable . But I have created local macro variable. Thanks alot guys

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Why would you need to delete a local macro variable?  It will disappear when the macro finishes.

[shivagujjaru]

I have applied some loop inside the macro . It's like when file is not exits it's still using the local macro variable while checking a condition. Thanks , now it's working

[Tom]

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@shivagujjaru wrote:
I have applied some loop inside the macro . It's like when file is not exits it's still using the local macro variable while checking a condition. Thanks , now it's working

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When you use INTO in PROC SQL and the query returns no observations then the macro variable is not created (or modified).

Set the macro variable to a value BEFORE the query.

%let list=;
select x into :list separated by ' ' from have where condition;

You can also use the automatic macro variable SQLOBS to see how many observations where selected.

%let n=&sqlobs;
%do i=1 %to &n;
  %let next=%scan(&list,&i,%str( ));
....