Macro variable: what is the offset?

[xxformat_com]

Hi,

An offset variable is listing in macros dictionary.

I've never seen any other value than offset=0.

Do you know when it could be different? What is this information for?

proc sql;
   select *
   from dictionary.macros;
quit;

[PaigeMiller]

Example of OFFSET and explanation here: https://www.lexjansen.com/nesug/nesug06/po/po06.pdf

[xxformat_com]

Thank you @PaigeMiller

[FreelanceReinh · Accepted solution]

Hi @xxformat_com,

The column VALUE in dictionary.macros has a fixed length of 200 bytes. So, if the value of a macro variable is longer than 200 characters, it will be split into substrings of up to 200 characters to fit into multiple records of dictionary.macros. The second, third, ... record will then have OFFSET values of 200, 400, etc.

Addendum: See the 2020 post Re: When are dictionary tables updated? for a case where this OFFSET column helped to understand how dictionary tables work.

[xxformat_com]

Thank you @FreelanceReinhard