I am trying to assign the file name to the variable. I am getting error saying that symbolic variable names must be 32 or fewer character long. Which macro function I should be using so that I do not have to worry about the length of the file?
%let fname = my_file_name_is_xyz_20150202090056.txt;
data abc;
src_file_nm = symget("&fname.");
run;
Just get rid of SYMGET:
src_file_nm = "&fname.";
You are mixing styles. Symget will resolve the value in the data step variable.
&fname will resolve the value in place.
So either remove the & in symget(), or skip symget().
%let fname = my_file_name_is_xyz_20150202090056.txt;
data abc;
src_file_nm = symget("fname");
run;
You don't need & to refer a macro variable in symget(). Doing so will resolve first, then resolving outcome will become a macro variable name for symget to process. In this case the macro variable name is my_file_name_is_xyz_20150202090056.txt, which violates two rules of naming convention for SAS variable/macro variable: 1. The length <=32 char 2. only alphabetic and _ can be part of the name, here you have dot .
It's finally time to hack! Remember to visit the SAS Hacker's Hub regularly for news and updates.
Learn how use the CAT functions in SAS to join values from multiple variables into a single value.
Find more tutorials on the SAS Users YouTube channel.
Ready to level-up your skills? Choose your own adventure.