Macro var value with *, how to handle?

[Macro]

I have the following code segment:

%let alist=a.*;

%let blist=b.*;

%if (&alist=a.*) and (&blist=b.*) %then %do;

ERROR: A character operand was found in the %EVAL function or %IF condition where a numeric operand is required. The condition was:

       (&alist=a.*) and (&blist=b.*)

Basically it is the * that caused the error. I would like to compare if alist value equal to a.* and blist value equal to b.*, how to achieve this without error?

[SASKiwi]

One way is using %quote:

%if (%quote(&alist)=a.*) and (%quote(&blist)=b.*) %then %do;

[gergely_batho]

I think you also need %quote() or %str() around the left side of = sign.

[Loko · Accepted solution]

Hello,

%macro a;

%let alist=a.*;
%let blist=b.*;

%if (%bquote(&alist)=%str(a.*)) and (%bquote(&blist)=%str(b.*)) %then %do;
%put TRUE;
%end;

%mend a;

%a