Loop over list of characters

[jaredp]

For looping over a list of characters, a data null step works fine:

data _null_;

do r="AB", "DE", "XY";

  put r=;

end;

run;

But I'm curious if this be replicated in a macro?  When I try with the code below, it expects a %to to be paired with the %do:

%macro char_loop;

%do r="AB", "DE", "XY";
  %put &r=;
%end;

%mend char_loop;

For anyone interested, there were a couple threads that touch on this topic:

https://communities.sas.com/message/42866#42866

https://communities.sas.com/message/120110#120110

[Haikuo]

%DO loop is not as nearly robust as its datastep counterpart. No, I don't think you can use the same style of looping.

Haikuo

[jaredp]

I've been coming to the same conclusion.  If it a macro countapart is possible (and it likely is), the code would likely be painful.

[Reeza]

Scan through a list..as mentioned in your links.

And bump it up on the ideas list or SASware ballot as well

https://communities.sas.com/ideas/1084

%let i=1;

%do %while (%scan(&varlist, &i, " ") ^=%str());

%let var=%scan(&varlist, &i, " ");   

%let i=%eval(&i+1);

%end;

[jaredp]

Thanks Reeza.  Good idea to add this to the ballot.

I did see that macro solution, but it certainly is not pretty.

[jaredp]

Haha, I see I already had my vote added to that idea. 

[Ron_MacroMaven]

This trick is shown in

http://www.sascommunity.org/wiki/List_Processing_Basics_Creating_and_Using_Lists_of_Macro_Variables