Hi SAS Expert!
I have a question on looping for string variables. First, I have multiple datasets and each of the file starts with the name "TMIDRRPT_MONTHLY_" and then followed by month and year. For example:
TMIDRRPT_MONTHLY_January-2010.txt
TMIDRRPT_MONTHLY_February-2010.txt
... etc.
I have created a macro to import multiple files in one go but it kept giving me the error code. If you can suggest a better way and/or spot my mistake, that will be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks!
David
%let year=2010;
%macro imp(year);
%do i=2010 %to &year;
%do j='January','February','March';
proc import datafile="&input\TMIDRRPT_MONTHLY_&j-&i.txt" out=data.raw&j&i dbms=dlm replace;
delimiter='|';
getnames=yes;
run;
%end;
%end;
%mend;
%imp(&year);
What's the error?
Post the log.
If you search here you'll find some macros that can help with this issue. If all your files have the same format you can use a wildcard and import all at once.
Hi Reeza,
Here is the error message.
508 %let year=2010;
509
510 %macro imp(year);
511 %do i=2010 %to &year;
512 %do j='January','February';
ERROR: Expected %TO not found in %DO statement.
ERROR: A dummy macro will be compiled.
513
514 proc import datafile="&input\TMIDRRPT_MONTHLY_&j-&i.txt" out=data.raw&j&i dbms=dlm
514! replace;
515 delimiter='|';
516 getnames=yes;
517 run;
518
519 %end;
520 %end;
521 %mend;
522 %imp(&year);
-
180
WARNING: Apparent invocation of macro IMP not resolved.
ERROR 180-322: Statement is not valid or it is used out of proper order.
I think Example 3 and 11 are what you're looking for, 3 is the solution to your question here and 11 is another option for your loop.
Note that you can use the MONNAME format to turn a date into the month name, ie January.
%put %sysfunc(putn('01Jan2017'd, monname.));
The log will show
January.
As you go through the examples that @Reeza pointed out you will discover that not all DATA step knowledge is transferrable to the macro language. For instance as you already found, macro %DO loops cannot iterate across character strings with multiple loop specifications - as can DATA step loops.
Also when appending text to a macro variable the dot or period is used to identify the end of the macro variable name. when appending a dot, a double dot is needed. in part your file name becomes &i-&j..txt;
Here's some detail about the original situation causing the problem:
As Art mentioned, you will need to add the dot as well.
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