How to get macro variable value in quotations

[chinna0369]

Hello, 

I would like get macro variable value in quotations in below, I am using as below but its not working.

%getnum(var1=PSA ne ., var2=%str("PSA BY MEDIAN (&median.)"), nn=);

Any solutions?

Thanks,

Nyala

[PeterClemmensen]

What is not working? 

[chinna0369]

I not getting actual macro variable value in quotations, I am getting as "PSA BY MEDIAN (&median.)".

[PaigeMiller]

---

@chinna0369 wrote:

Hello, 

I would like get macro variable value in quotations in below, I am using as below but its not working.

%getnum(var1=PSA ne ., var2=%str("PSA BY MEDIAN (&median.)"), nn=);

Any solutions?

---

How will this macro variable &var2 be used inside of %GETNUM?

Usually, it's not necessary to have macro variable values enclosed in quotes or in double-quotes, that just complicates things. Typically, inside the macro you can just refer to &var2, if you need it in quotes, as 

"&var2"

which is much simpler than trying to get quotes around it above as you are trying to do.

[chinna0369]

Okay, if I create macro variable inside quotes as "&var2" How can I give special characters such as %, (, ). etc. So I have created &var2 like above.

[PaigeMiller]

---

@chinna0369 wrote:
Okay, if I create macro variable inside quotes as "&var2" How can I give special characters such as %, (, ). etc. So I have created &var2 like above.

---

Please show us how this macro variable &var2 will be used inside the macro.

[chinna0369]

Below is the macro I have written for counts, and callings

** Get counts and create macro to repeat for every variable;
%macro getnum(out=, var1=, var2=, nn=);
%if 0=%length(&nn) %then %do;
  %global seq ;
  %let seq=%eval(&seq+1);
  %let nn=&seq;
%end;
%if 0=%length(&out) %then %let out=out&nn ;

proc sql;
	create table stp1 as
	select distinct trtpn, count(distinct usubjid) as n,
	case when trtpn=1 then strip(put(calculated n, 3.))||" ("||strip(put((calculated n/&n1.)*100, 5.1))||")"
     	 when trtpn=2 then strip(put(calculated n, 3.))||" ("||strip(put((calculated n/&n2.)*100, 5.1))||")"
    	 when trtpn=9 then strip(put(calculated n, 3.))||" ("||strip(put((calculated n/&n3.)*100, 5.1))||")"
         else ""
	end as numm
	from adsl1
	where &var1.
	group by trtpn;
quit;

proc transpose data=stp1 out=stp2;
	var numm;
	id trtpn;
run;

data &out.;
	length v1 v2 v3 v4 $200.;
	set stp2;

	v1=&var2.;
	v2=_1;
	v3=_2;
	v4=_9;

	ord=&nn.;

	keep ord v1-v4;
run;
%mend;
%getstats(var1=tidist, var2=%str(TIME FROM INITIAL DIAGNOSIS TO INITIATION OF STUDY THERAPY (YEARS)), nn=, mm=);
%getnum(var1=TIDISTC ne '', var2=%unquote("TIME FROM INITIAL DIAGNOSIS TO INITIATION OF STUDY THERAPY (%)"), nn=);
%getnum(var1=PSA ne ., var2=%str("PSA BY MEDIAN (&median.)"), nn=);

[Tom]

Your macro is using VAR2 in only one place:

	v1=&var2.;

Since you appear to want V1 to be a character variable just include the quotes when calling the macro.

So your examples calls can be:

%getnum(var1=TIDISTC ne ' ', var2='TIME FROM INITIAL DIAGNOSIS TO INITIATION OF STUDY THERAPY (%)', nn=);
%getnum(var1=PSA ne ., var2="PSA BY MEDIAN (&median.)", nn=);

Using single quotes for the first example will prevent the macro processor from looking at the % in the value (although I don't think it is actually going to cause any trouble). 

If you are worried about special characters inside of the value of MEDIAN then use %SUPERQ() to add macro quoting.

%getnum(var1=PSA ne ., var2="PSA BY MEDIAN (%superq(median))", nn=);

[Tom]

---

@chinna0369 wrote:
Okay, if I create macro variable inside quotes as "&var2" How can I give special characters such as %, (, ). etc. So I have created &var2 like above.

---

It is really not at all clear what your question is.  

Here is example of referencing a macro variables value inside of double quotes.

%let vara=Text of vara;
%let varb=&vara;
%let varc="&vara";

Why did you include the %STR() in your original question?  Are you worried that the value of VARA has commas or other characters that have special meaning in the macro call?

[chinna0369]

Yes, because of special characters I am using %str, %unquote. I have given my whole code in one of my replies.

[PaigeMiller]

Since I don't have your input data sets or the other macro, here is an abbreviated piece of code that handles &var2 properly

%macro getnum(out=, var1=, var2=, nn=);
data _a_;
	length v1 v2 v3 v4 $200.;
	set sashelp.class;
	v1="&var2";
	keep v1-v4;
run;
%mend;
%getnum(var2=TIME FROM INITIAL DIAGNOSIS TO INITIATION OF STUDY THERAPY %nrstr(%%));

I have another question. &var2 equals TIME FROM INITIAL DIAGNOSIS TO INITIATION OF STUDY THERAPY %. Why is this a variable in a data set, since it never varies? Shouldn't it be a label or a title? 

[chinna0369]

Okay, got it. Thank you so much. But I have one more question. Can I use &median. like below? But it looks like it is not working properly? I mean &median. value is not taking in below var1 macro variable.

** Median calculation for counts category untill a variable created in ADSL;
proc sql noprint;
	select v4 into :median from out59 where v1 eq '~{nbspace 5}MEDIAN';
quit;	
%put &median.;
** PSA BY MEDIAN (XXXX);
%getnum(var1=PSA ne ., var2=%str("PSA BY MEDIAN (&median.)"), nn=);
%getnum(var1=PSA < &median., var2=%str("~{nbspace 5}< MEDIAN"), nn=);
%getnum(var1=PSA >= &median., var2=%str("~{nbspace 5}>= MEDIAN"), nn=);

Sorry for the confusion.

[PaigeMiller]

---

@chinna0369 wrote:

Okay, got it. Thank you so much. But I have one more question. Can I use &median. like below? But it looks like it is not working properly? I mean &median. value is not taking in below var1 macro variable.

** Median calculation for counts category untill a variable created in ADSL;
proc sql noprint;
	select v4 into :median from out59 where v1 eq '~{nbspace 5}MEDIAN';
quit;	
%put &median.;
** PSA BY MEDIAN (XXXX);
%getnum(var1=PSA ne ., var2=%str("PSA BY MEDIAN (&median.)"), nn=);
%getnum(var1=PSA < &median., var2=%str("~{nbspace 5}< MEDIAN"), nn=);
%getnum(var1=PSA >= &median., var2=%str("~{nbspace 5}>= MEDIAN"), nn=);

Sorry for the confusion.

---

What is not working? Please show us the log from when you run %GETNUM by including this command

options mprint;

above the line that begins with %getnum, then running that line and %getnum together. Show us the full unedited unchopped complete log as it appears for %GETNUM, in the sequendce that it appears in the LOG. Copy the log as text, and then paste it into the window that appears when you click on the </> icon. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP.

[chinna0369]

Here is the log:

217    ***************
218    **** Stats ****
219    **************;
220    ** Get descriptive stats and create macro to repeat for every variable;
221    %macro getstats(out=, var1=, var2=, nn=, mm=);
222    %if 0=%length(&nn) %then %do;
223      %global seq ;
224      %let seq=%eval(&seq+1);
225      %let nn=&seq;
226      %let mm=&seq-0.5;
227    %end;
228    %if 0=%length(&out) %then %let out=out&nn ;
229
230    proc means data=adsl;
231    var &var1.;
232    class trtpn;
233    output out=step1 n=count mean=mn std=std median=mdn q1=qtr1 q3=qtr3 min=mini max=maxi;
234    run;
235
236    data step2;
237    set step1(where=(trtpn ne .));
238    if count ne . then cnt=strip(put(count,8.));
239    else cnt='';
240    if mn ne . then mnsd=strip(put(mn,8.));*||" ("||strip(put(std,8.1))||")";
241    else mnsd='';
242    if mdn ne . then mdian=strip(put(mdn,8.));
243    else mdian='';
244    if qtr3 ne . then qtrs=strip(put(qtr1,8.))||", "||strip(put(qtr3,8.));
245    else qtrs='';
246    if mini ne . and maxi ne . then minmax=strip(put(mini,8.))||", "||strip(put(maxi,8.));
247    else minmax='';
248    if std ne . then stdev=strip(put(std,8.));
249    else stdev='';
250    keep trtpn cnt mnsd mdian qtrs minmax stdev;
251    run;
252
253    proc transpose data=step2 out=step3;
254    var cnt mnsd mdian qtrs minmax stdev;
255    id trtpn;
256    run;
257
258    data step4;
259    length v1 v2 v3 v4 $200.;
260    set step3;
261
262    if _NAME_ eq "cnt" then v1="~{nbspace 5}N";
263    else if _NAME_ eq "mnsd" then v1="~{nbspace 5}MEAN";
264    else if _NAME_ eq "mdian" then v1="~{nbspace 5}MEDIAN";
265    else if _NAME_ eq "qtrs" then v1="~{nbspace 5}Q1, Q3";
266    else if _NAME_ eq "minmax" then v1="~{nbspace 5}MIN, MAX";
267    else if _NAME_ eq "stdev" then v1="~{nbspace 5}STANDARD DEVIATION";
268
269    v2=_1;
270    v3=_2;
271    v4=_9;
272
273    ord=&nn.;
274
275    keep ord v1 v2 v3 v4;
276    run;
277
278    data dummy;
279        v1="&var2";
280        ord=&mm.;
281    run;
282
283    data &out.;
284        set step4 dummy;
285        by ord;
286    run;
287    %mend getstats;
288
289    ************
290    ** counts **
291    ***********;
292    ** Get counts and create macro to repeat for every variable;
293    %macro getnum(out=, var1=, var2=, nn=);
294    %if 0=%length(&nn) %then %do;
295      %global seq ;
296      %let seq=%eval(&seq+1);
297      %let nn=&seq;
298    %end;
299    %if 0=%length(&out) %then %let out=out&nn ;
300
301    proc sql;
302        create table stp1 as
303        select distinct trtpn, count(distinct usubjid) as n,
304        case when trtpn=1 then strip(put(calculated n, 3.))||" ("||strip(put((calculated
304  ! n/&n1.)*100, 5.1))||")"
305             when trtpn=2 then strip(put(calculated n, 3.))||" ("||strip(put((calculated
305  ! n/&n2.)*100, 5.1))||")"
306             when trtpn=9 then strip(put(calculated n, 3.))||" ("||strip(put((calculated
306  ! n/&n3.)*100, 5.1))||")"
307             else ""
308        end as numm
309        from adsl1
310        where &var1.
311        group by trtpn;
312    quit;
313
314    proc transpose data=stp1 out=stp2;
315        var numm;
316        id trtpn;
317    run;
318
319    data &out.;
320        length v1 v2 v3 v4 $200.;
321        set stp2;
322
323        v1=&var2.;
324        v2=_1;
325        v3=_2;
326        v4=_9;
327
328        ord=&nn.;
329
330        keep ord v1-v4;
331    run;
332    %mend;
333
334    %let seq=0;
421    ** Median calculation for counts category untill a variable created in ADSL;
422    proc sql noprint;
423        select v4 into :median from out59 where v1 eq '~{nbspace 5}MEDIAN';
NOTE: No rows were selected.
424    quit;
NOTE: PROCEDURE SQL used (Total process time):
      real time           0.01 seconds
      user cpu time       0.00 seconds
      system cpu time     0.01 seconds
      memory              5684.12k
      OS Memory           29948.00k
      Timestamp           01/04/2021 02:36:14 PM
      Step Count                        205  Switch Count  0


WARNING: Apparent symbolic reference MEDIAN not resolved.
425    %put &median.;
&median.
426    ** PSA BY MEDIAN (XXXX);
427    %getnum(var1=PSA ne ., var2=%str("PSA BY MEDIAN (&median.)"), nn=);
WARNING: Apparent symbolic reference MEDIAN not resolved.
NOTE: Table WORK.STP1 created, with 3 rows and 3 columns.

NOTE: PROCEDURE SQL used (Total process time):
      real time           0.02 seconds
      user cpu time       0.00 seconds
      system cpu time     0.00 seconds
      memory              5809.00k
      OS Memory           29948.00k
      Timestamp           01/04/2021 02:36:14 PM
      Step Count                        206  Switch Count  0



NOTE: There were 3 observations read from the data set WORK.STP1.
NOTE: The data set WORK.STP2 has 1 observations and 4 variables.
NOTE: PROCEDURE TRANSPOSE used (Total process time):
      real time           0.02 seconds
      user cpu time       0.00 seconds
      system cpu time     0.01 seconds
      memory              2836.21k
      OS Memory           26876.00k
      Timestamp           01/04/2021 02:36:14 PM
      Step Count                        207  Switch Count  0


WARNING: Apparent symbolic reference MEDIAN not resolved.

NOTE: There were 1 observations read from the data set WORK.STP2.
NOTE: The data set WORK.OUT61 has 1 observations and 5 variables.
NOTE: DATA statement used (Total process time):
      real time           0.01 seconds
      user cpu time       0.00 seconds
      system cpu time     0.01 seconds
      memory              1305.84k
      OS Memory           25340.00k
      Timestamp           01/04/2021 02:36:14 PM
      Step Count                        208  Switch Count  0


428    options mprint;
429    %getnum(var1=PSA < &median., var2=%str("~{nbspace 5}< MEDIAN"), nn=);
WARNING: Apparent symbolic reference MEDIAN not resolved.
MPRINT(GETNUM):   proc sql;
WARNING: Apparent symbolic reference MEDIAN not resolved.
NOTE 138-205: Line generated by the macro variable "VAR1".
1       PSA < &median.
              -
              22
ERROR 22-322: Syntax error, expecting one of the following: a name, a quoted string,
              a numeric constant, a datetime constant, a missing value, BTRIM, INPUT, PUT,
              SUBSTRING, USER.

WARNING: Apparent symbolic reference MEDIAN not resolved.
NOTE 137-205: Line generated by the invoked macro "GETNUM".
2       3.))||" ("||strip(put((calculated n/&n2.)*100, 5.1))||")"          when trtpn=9 then
2    ! strip(put(calculated n, 3.))||" ("||strip(put((calculated n/&n3.)*100, 5.1))||")"
2    ! else ""     end as numm     from adsl1     where &var1.     group by trtpn;
                                                                         --
                                                                         22
ERROR 22-322: Syntax error, expecting one of the following: GROUP, ORDER.

NOTE: Line generated by the invoked macro "GETNUM".
2       3.))||" ("||strip(put((calculated n/&n2.)*100, 5.1))||")"          when trtpn=9 then
2    ! strip(put(calculated n, 3.))||" ("||strip(put((calculated n/&n3.)*100, 5.1))||")"
2    ! else ""     end as numm     from adsl1     where &var1.     group by trtpn;
                                                                         --
                                                                         76
ERROR 76-322: Syntax error, statement will be ignored.

MPRINT(GETNUM):   create table stp1 as select distinct trtpn, count(distinct usubjid) as n, case
when trtpn=1 then strip(put(calculated n, 3.))||" ("||strip(put((calculated n/ 3)*100, 5.1))||")"
when trtpn=2 then strip(put(calculated n, 3.))||" ("||strip(put((calculated n/ 4)*100, 5.1))||")"
when trtpn=9 then strip(put(calculated n, 3.))||" ("||strip(put((calculated n/ 7)*100, 5.1))||")"
else "" end as numm from adsl1 where PSA < & group by trtpn;
MPRINT(GETNUM):   quit;
NOTE: The SAS System stopped processing this step because of errors.
NOTE: PROCEDURE SQL used (Total process time):
      real time           0.08 seconds
      user cpu time       0.01 seconds
      system cpu time     0.04 seconds
      memory              74.84k
      OS Memory           24308.00k
      Timestamp           01/04/2021 02:36:14 PM
      Step Count                        209  Switch Count  0



MPRINT(GETNUM):   proc transpose data=stp1 out=stp2;
MPRINT(GETNUM):   var numm;
MPRINT(GETNUM):   id trtpn;
MPRINT(GETNUM):   run;

NOTE: There were 3 observations read from the data set WORK.STP1.
NOTE: The data set WORK.STP2 has 1 observations and 4 variables.
NOTE: PROCEDURE TRANSPOSE used (Total process time):
      real time           0.02 seconds
      user cpu time       0.00 seconds
      system cpu time     0.01 seconds
      memory              2836.21k
      OS Memory           26876.00k
      Timestamp           01/04/2021 02:36:14 PM
      Step Count                        210  Switch Count  0


MPRINT(GETNUM):   data out62;
MPRINT(GETNUM):   length v1 v2 v3 v4 $200.;
MPRINT(GETNUM):   set stp2;
MPRINT(GETNUM):   v1="~{nbspace 5}< MEDIAN";
MPRINT(GETNUM):   v2=_1;
MPRINT(GETNUM):   v3=_2;
MPRINT(GETNUM):   v4=_9;
MPRINT(GETNUM):   ord=62;
MPRINT(GETNUM):   keep ord v1-v4;
MPRINT(GETNUM):   run;

NOTE: There were 1 observations read from the data set WORK.STP2.
NOTE: The data set WORK.OUT62 has 1 observations and 5 variables.
NOTE: DATA statement used (Total process time):
      real time           0.04 seconds
      user cpu time       0.01 seconds
      system cpu time     0.01 seconds
      memory              1305.71k
      OS Memory           25340.00k
      Timestamp           01/04/2021 02:36:14 PM
      Step Count                        211  Switch Count  0

[PaigeMiller · Accepted solution]

I only needed the part of the log where you ran %GETNUM and it didn't work, not the 3000 lines above that.

WARNING: Apparent symbolic reference MEDIAN not resolved.

You have not assigned a value to &median