Macro variable not resolved

[Hoibai]

why are my macro variables not resolved? Do you know it?  Thanks.

options mprint mlogic;

%macro test;
proc sql;
select count(*)
into :pstn_cc
from ueberschrift_lesen;
%let pstn_cc = &pstn_cc;

select pstn
into :pstn_cn1-:pstn_cn&pstn_cc
from ueberschrift_lesen;

quit;

%do i=1 %to &pstn_cc;
%put &pstn_cn&i;
%end;
%mend;
%test;

my log:

MLOGIC(TEST): %DO loop beginning; index variable I; start value is 1; stop value is 4; by value is 1.
MLOGIC(TEST): %PUT &pstn_cn&i
WARNING: Apparent symbolic reference PSTN_CN not resolved.
&pstn_cn1
MLOGIC(TEST): %DO loop index variable I is now 2; loop will iterate again.
MLOGIC(TEST): %PUT &pstn_cn&i
WARNING: Apparent symbolic reference PSTN_CN not resolved.
&pstn_cn2
MLOGIC(TEST): %DO loop index variable I is now 3; loop will iterate again.
MLOGIC(TEST): %PUT &pstn_cn&i
WARNING: Apparent symbolic reference PSTN_CN not resolved.
&pstn_cn3
MLOGIC(TEST): %DO loop index variable I is now 4; loop will iterate again.
MLOGIC(TEST): %PUT &pstn_cn&i
WARNING: Apparent symbolic reference PSTN_CN not resolved.
&pstn_cn4

[Kurt_Bremser · Accepted solution]

%put &pstn_cn&i;

You reference two variables here: pstn_cn (which you hever created) and i (which you created in the %DO).

To indirectly address pstn_cn1, you need to use a double ampersand:

%put &&pstn_cn&i;

This causes a double pass: in the first, && is reduced to &, and &i is resolved, so you get

&pstn_cn1

which can be resolved.

[Hoibai]

That's right. Thanks very much.

[Tom]

Is there some reason you need transfer the values from actual data into macro variables?

If so there is no need to run the query twice just to get the count, PROC SQL will count for you.

%macro test;
%local i pstn_cc;
proc sql noprint;
select pstn
  into :pstn_cn1-
  from ueberschrift_lesen
;
%let pstn_cc = &sqlobs ;
quit;
%do i=1 %to &pstn_cc;
  %put &&pstn_cn&i;
%end;
%mend;
%test;

The problem with your code was a missing &.  You need two & so that the macro processor will know to reprocess the token after it has resolved the &I on the first pass.