Hi:
It is generally a bad idea to "prequote" macro variables. The quotes belong to the SAS statement where the macro variable is used. For example:
[pre]
%let amt = 5000;
title "Criteria: Amount GT &amt";
versus
where amount gt &amt;
[/pre]
In the first instance, the quotes belong to the title statement. In the WHERE statement, if you had prequoted the value for &AMT, you probably would have generated an incorrect WHERE statement, because there's a difference between:
[pre]
where amount gt 5000;
versus
where amount gt '5000';
[/pre]
But let's say that your WHERE statement -did- need quotes...this is what you want to generate:
[pre]
where name = "Alfred";
[/pre]
and your macro variable is named WANT...
You should create &WANT like this:
[pre]
%let want = Alfred;
where name = "&want";
[/pre]
Or, here's another example of where you might need quotes for syntax purposes:
[pre]
%let muppet = Kermit the Frog;
data sesame;
length character $20;
character = "&muppet";
run;
[/pre]
While it might be tempting to prequote the value Kermit the Frog, the quotes actually belong to the assignment statement where the &MUPPET macro variable is being used and the usage context and quoting requirements are known.
Why did you have quotes when you assigned a value to &A??? How are you using that macro variable?
These previous forums postings may help clarify the issue of quotes and macro variables:
http://support.sas.com/forums/thread.jspa?messageID=16560䂰
http://support.sas.com/forums/thread.jspa?messageID=23099娻
http://support.sas.com/forums/thread.jspa?messageID=16160㼠
cynthia