How to Use the 'TRANWRD' while creating the Macro Variable?

[SASuserlot]

I am looking to create macro variable which contains the list of variables from the dataset. I am going to use the same list in different places of my big macro.  My requirement is , I want to replace the  'comma' (,) symbol with a one blank space where ever needed. I tried the  ' TRANWRD' along with the "%sysfunc" . Unfortunately I can not get the output I am expected. Thank you for your suggestions.

%let havelist= %str(company,month,expenses,adjustment,balance);

%let wantlist = %sysfunc(tranwrd(&havelist,","," "));

* looking &wantlist display as 'company month expenses adjustment balance';

%put &havelist ;
%put &wantlist

[Reeza · Accepted solution]

%let havelist= %str(company,month,expenses,adjustment,balance);

%let wantlist = %sysfunc(tranwrd(&havelist,%str(,),%str( )));

* looking &wantlist display as 'company month expenses adjustment balance';

%put &havelist ;
%put &wantlist;

[SASuserlot]

It worked. thank you @Reeza @Kc2 .  %str making the difference? we need to use the '%str' in these scenarios?  how to use if there is double space needed instead of single space? Can I use like below double space between double quotes in the second %str option.

%let wantlist = %sysfunc(tranwrd(&havelist,%str(,),%str("  ")));

[Reeza]

Yes, quotes aren't required in macro functions so you need to mask the string in another way. 

[SASuserlot]

Thank you.

[Kc2]

try this code;

%let havelist= %str(company,month,expenses,adjustment,balance);

%let wantlist = %sysfunc(tranwrd(%quote(&havelist),%str(,),%str( )));

* looking &wantlist display as 'company month expenses adjustment balance';

%put &havelist ;
%put &wantlist;

[Tom]

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@SASuserlot wrote:

I am looking to create macro variable which contains the list of variables from the dataset. I am going to use the same list in different places of my big macro.  My requirement is , I want to replace the  'comma' (,) symbol with a one blank space where ever needed. I tried the  ' TRANWRD' along with the "%sysfunc" . Unfortunately I can not get the output I am expected. Thank you for your suggestions.

%let havelist= %str(company,month,expenses,adjustment,balance);
%let wantlist = %sysfunc(tranwrd(&havelist,","," "));

* looking &wantlist display as 'company month expenses adjustment balance';

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There are NOT any commas enclosed in double quote characters in &HAVELIST, so the TRANWRD() function will just return the original value.