PRXMATCH function with a macro variable (whose value contains a forward slash) not working

[muhuri]

I am using PRXMATCH with a Perl regular expression(RegEx) in a WHERE clause in PROC PRINT. The RegEx includes a macro variable containing a drug list and one of these drug names includes a forward slash.  I am getting an error even after using a escape character (back slash) in the RegEx.  I would appreciate your help resolve the issue.

Partial SAS Log:

ERROR: Invalid characters "ATROP \//i" after end delimiter "/" of regular expression
"/Propantheline|Propoxyphene|Reserpine|Ticlopidine|Trimethobenzamide|DIPHEN/ATROP \//i".

* Create a macro variable of study drugs;
%let STUDY_DRUG_LIST = Propantheline|Propoxyphene|Reserpine|Ticlopidine|Trimethobenzamide|DIPHEN/ATROP;

* Create an example data set of prescription fills (patient ID and drug names) ;
Data work.pmed;
input dupersid: $10.  rxname $20.;
datalines;
2320038102 NITROFURANTN
2320038102 EZETIMIBE
2320038102 Propantheline
2320040101 Reserpine
2320040101 Reserpine
2320040101 NOVOLOG
2320040101 NOVOLOG
2320040105 DIPHEN/ATROP
2320040105 DIPHEN/ATROP
2320040105 DIPHEN/ATROP
;

* List observations using PRXMATCH with a Perl regular expression in the WHERE clause (Study drug list);
proc print data=work.pmed;
where prxmatch ("/&study_drug_list2 \//i", rxname);
run;

[muhuri]

Corrected: where prxmatch ("/&study_drug_list\//i", rxname);

[ChrisNZ · Accepted solution]

You need to escape the slash:

%let study_drug_list = Propantheline|Propoxyphene|Reserpine|Ticlopidine|Trimethobenzamide|DIPHEN\/TROP;

You can do that on the fly if needed:

%let study_drug_list2 = %sysfunc(transtrn(&study_drug_list,/,\/));

Then:

where prxmatch ("/&study_drug_list2/i", RXNAME);

[muhuri]

Your revisions to my code have worked. Thanks,

[muhuri]

It has worked. Thanks,