Macro Quoting functions

[Babloo]

May I request someone to provide me an easy example to understand the macro functions like %str, %nrstr, %quote and %bquote? Although I read the documentation I've trouble understanding them.

Thanks!

[LinusH]

If there were an easy/short explanation for this, I'm pretty sure that should be in the documentation.

Read again, read various papers on the subject.

Use examples in doc, modify them and notice the behaviour.

[data_null__]

I recall a really nice blog post from one of the SAS folks on this subject.  Does anyone remember that or am I having a senior moment?

[Quentin]

Perhaps @data_null__ you are referring to this blog post from Russ Tyndall.  I think it's an excellent resource. 

http://blogs.sas.com/content/sgf/2014/08/15/macro-quoting-made-easy/

For more detailed reviews, see UG such as:

Whitlock: http://www.lexjansen.com/nesug/nesug03/at/at012.pdf

Dunn: http://www.lexjansen.com/scsug/2010/Dunn_5/Macro_Quoting.pdf

[FreelanceReinh]

A former colleague of mine, Roland Rashleigh-Berry, has published a nice article on this subject: http://www.datasavantconsulting.com/roland/mquoting.html

I think you'll like it.

[RW9]

Just my opinion, but if your having to use these, then there is 95% chance of a better way of doing things using Base SAS programming, in fact other than 1% of extreme circumstances, almost everything can be done in Base SAS.

[Ksharp]

 Quickly  go through this . Detials check documentation.

%str, %nrstr  ,%quote ,%bquote are all used to mask the special characters (like blank comma ..) in a string.

%str, %nrstr  are generally for a STRING .

%str will resolve the macro variable if it is included in the STRING. and need add % before non-pair  '  " (  )  %    

%nrstr will NOT resolve the macro variable if it is included in the STRING. and need add % before non-pair  '  " (  )  %    

%quote ,%bquote are generally for a MACRO VARIABLE .

%quote is old version of %bquote . Now almost be replaced by %bquote .

 %bquote  unlike %quote  which need add % before non-pair  '  "  

[Babloo]

Thank you!

An simple example would be helpful.

[Ksharp]

OK.

%str, %nrstr  are generally for a STRING .

%str will resolve the macro variable if it is included in the STRING. and need add % before non-pair  '  " (  )  %    

1)

54 %let a=xxx;

55 %let b=%str(xxx&a.xxx);

56 %put &b ;

xxxxxxxxx

2)

54 %let a=xxx;

55 %let b=%str(xxx&a.x%'xx%"xx%%);

56 %put &b ;

xxxxxxx'xx"xx%

%nrstr will NOT resolve the macro variable if it is included in the STRING. and need add % before non-pair  '  " (  )  %    

1)

54 %let a=xxx;

55 %let b=%nrstr(xxx&a.x%'xx%"xx%%);

56 %put &b ;

xxx&a.x'xx"xx%

%quote ,%bquote are generally for a MACRO VARIABLE .

%quote is old version of %bquote . Now almost be replaced by %bquote .

 %bquote  unlike %quote  which need add % before non-pair  '  "  

%bquote will resolve the macro variable in it .

1)

54 %let a=xxx;

55 %let b=%bquote(xxx&a.x'xx"xx);

56 %put &b ;

xxxxxxx'xx"xx