Function dim in macro

[mansour_ib_sas]

Hello

can we use the dim function  to define the size of vector in a macro ?

Thank you

[PaigeMiller]

Yes, you can put any data step command and any function in a macro.

Macros are just text substitution ... instead of %macroname or &macrovariablename, code is substituted depending on the value of the macro or the value of the macro variable, so when this code substitution happens, you must wind up with legal valid (not erroneous) SAS code.

[Astounding · Accepted solution]

No.  The DIM function applies to DATA step arrays only.

However, you can use the COUNTW function, as long as you apply %SYSFUNC:

%do k=1 to %sysfunc(countw(&macro_list));

There are only mild restrictions.  Be sure that your macro variable isn't null, and the same delimiter must be used to separate all values within the macro variable.

In retrospect, it looks like @PaigeMiller and I interpreted your question differently.  You may need to give a little more description on what you are trying to achieve.

[Kurt_Bremser]

Dim() is a function that expects an array as argument. Since arrays exist only in data steps, you cannot use them outside.

If you want to record the size of an array, use call symput() in a data step:

data _null_;
set have;
array myvars {*} var:;
call symputx('dim',dim(myvars));
stop;
run;