Macro variable was not created

[Ronein]

Hello

In this code I get warning and  macro variable FromDate was not created.

May anyone help to solve the problem?

data ttt;
format date date9.;
input date : date9.;
cards;
12JAN2022
17SEP2020
13MAR2020
;
run;


%MACRO  Start_Date;
%if %sysfunc(exist(ttt)) %then %do;
proc sql noprint;
select max(date)+1 as FromDate into : FromDate
from ttt
;
quit;
%end;
%else %Do;
Data _null_;
call symput('FromDate','01SEP2020'd);
Run;
%end;
%Mend Start_Date;
%Start_Date;
%put &FromDate;
/*WARNING: Apparent symbolic reference FROMDATE not resolved.*/

[Kurt_Bremser]

Your macro variable is local to the macro, so you won't see it outside. And in case the dataset exists but is empty, it will also not be created.

Use your %IF in open code, without a macro definition:

%let fromdate = '01sep2020'd;
%if %sysfunc(exist(ttt)) %then %do;
proc sql noprint;
select max(date)+1  into : FromDate
from ttt
;
quit;
%end;

This takes care of both issues.

[japelin · Accepted solution]

submit %global before submit macro or first in macro.

%global fromdate;
%Start_Date;

%MACRO  Start_Date;
%global fromdate;
%if %sysfunc(exist(ttt)) %then %do;
...