How to create a macro variable with comma-delimited values from two macro variables?

[clarkchong1]

I have the following macro variable definitions:

%LET text1 = a;

%LET text2 = %STR(b,c,d);

What do I need to do to create text3 from &text1 and &text2, which is equivalent to assigning:

%LET text3 = %STR(a,b,c,d);

?

I need the resulting text3 to be able to be used as &value in the following sample code:

http://support.sas.com/kb/26/155.html

Thank you!

[novinosrin · Accepted solution]

%LET text1 = a;

%LET text2 = %STR(b,c,d);

%let text3=%bquote(&text1,&text2);

%put &text3;


%loop(&text3) 

[clarkchong1]

This works like magic! Thank you!
More reference on MACRO quoting: https://blogs.sas.com/content/sgf/2014/08/15/macro-quoting-made-easy/

[ballardw]

Are you sure you need that particular code?

You can get the same result without any commas:

%macro loopalt(values);    
                                                                                                                
     /* Count the number of values in the string */                                                                                                                                   
     %let count=%sysfunc(countw(&values)); 

     /* Loop through the total number of values */                                                                                         
     %do i = 1 %to &count;                                                                                                              
      %let value=%scan(&values, &i);                                                                                            
      %put &value;                                                                                                                      
     %end;                                                                                                                                 
%mend;   
%loopalt(2 3 5 7 11 13 17 )

In general introducing commas and/or quotes into macro variables seems to cause more headaches than needed for most cases.

[clarkchong1]

That's a great idea! How do one then combine text1 and text2 below to get text3?
%LET text1 = a b;
%LET text2 = c d;
%LET text3 = a b c d;
Thanks!

[ballardw]

---

@clarkchong1 wrote:
That's a great idea! How do one then combine text1 and text2 below to get text3?
%LET text1 = a b;
%LET text2 = c d;
%LET text3 = a b c d;
Thanks!

---

%LET text1 = a b;
%LET text2 = c d;
%let text3 = &text1. &text2.;

%put text3= &text3.;

[clarkchong1]

Ah. That's obvious, wasn't it? Thank you!

[Tom]

Why are you adding the macro quotes?

%LET text2 =1,5,9;

Then you can use the value a DO statement.

data test;
  do x=&text2;
    output;
  end;
run;

[clarkchong1]

Thanks for the suggestion!

I need to execute a macro functions with various input, with input defined by items in a comma delimited list supplied by the user. So I can't just do it in a data step.

[ScottBass]

---

@clarkchong1 wrote:

Thanks for the suggestion!

I need to execute a macro functions with various input, with input defined by items in a comma delimited list supplied by the user. So I can't just do it in a data step.

---

I hate commas in macro lists, especially if that list is then a parameter to another macro or macro function.  It's nothing but headaches.

You said "comma delimited list supplied by the user":

1) Is that a macro variable supplied by the user, or some other "list"?

2) Can the user supply it as just a delimited (space or some other character) list?

I prefer "injecting" commas at "run time" via the %seplist macro:

https://github.com/scottbass/SAS/blob/master/Macro/seplist.sas

Here are some sample invocations:

%put %seplist(a b c);
%put %seplist(a b c,nest=q);
%put %seplist(a b c,nest=qq);
%put %seplist(a b c,prefix=a.),%seplist(d e f,prefix=b.);  * say for a SQL SELECT column list ;
%put %seplist(%bquote(a,b,c),indlm=%str(,));  * if you insist on embedded commas then you have to quote the argument ;
%put %seplist(hello scott^how are you^i am well thanks,indlm=^);  * if items contain spaces ;
%put %seplist(hello scott^how are you^i am well thanks,indlm=^,dlm=|);

[LeonidBatkhan]

It's even simpler than that. You can have

%let text1 = 2;
%let text2 = 3,5,7,11,13,17;
%let text3 = &text1,&text2;

To check it out just run

%put &text3;

and you will get in SAS log:

2,3,5,7,11,13,17