Help needed: Getting macro variable value using variable name built from two scans?

[tjc]

Calling all macro idiot savants!  🙂  Thanks!

* Given the following...;

%let a=x;
%let b=y;
%let xy=12;

* Why does this yield '12'?;
%put &&&a&b;

* And this yields '12'?;
%let z=%scan(&a,1)%scan(&b,1);

%put &&&z;

* But this yields '&xy'? How do I make the ampersands apply to both scan results to yield '12'?;
%put &&&%scan(&a,1)%scan(&b,1);

[Astounding · Accepted solution]

If the last expression generates &xy, apply %unquote:

%put %unquote(... original expression ...);

[tjc]

Dang, your mama named you right, Astounding - worked like a charm!