Masking "&&" in datastep

[brokenpc1]

Hi All,

I am having a question regarding how to mask "&" in data steps:

Now I have a variable called "A&C name" in a table, when I call this variable using "A&C name"n, it returns an error showing that SAS interprets "&" as start of a macro var. I wonder how I can mask "&" here? I tried to search the discussions but didn't find a close match.

Thanks for your help!

[PaigeMiller · Accepted solution]

Use single quotes, not double quotes. Or if for some reason double-quotes are mandatory (I can't think of a reason why it would be mandatory, but maybe...) use %nrstr(&)

[brokenpc1]

Hi @PaigeMiller , thanks for helping out. Single quote works for me. Feel like this is one of those rare cases double quote is not working in SAS.

[PaigeMiller]

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@brokenpc1 wrote:

Hi @PaigeMiller , thanks for helping out. Single quote works for me. Feel like this is one of those rare cases double quote is not working in SAS.

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SAS is doing what it is supposed to be doing when you use double-quotes, but that doesn't seem to be what you want it to do.

[Tom]

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@PaigeMiller wrote:

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@brokenpc1 wrote:

Hi @PaigeMiller , thanks for helping out. Single quote works for me. Feel like this is one of those rare cases double quote is not working in SAS.

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SAS is doing what it is supposed to be doing when you use double-quotes, but that doesn't seem to be what you want it to do.

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Did anyone else notice that each reply seems to be doubling the & in the subject line?

[PaigeMiller]

Yes, I see it. Calling @ChrisHemedinger