Separate Outputs not handling spaces(creates extra data set)

[Q1983]

data have;

infile datalines truncover;

input @1 deptid 1. deptdescription $ & 3-20;

datalines;

1 Maths

2 Astronomy

1 Maths

3 Physics

4 Public Health

3 Physics

;

run;

/* Sort by Deptid so first./last. logic can be used in the next step */

proc sort data=have;

by deptid;

run;

/* CALL SYMPUTX creates macro variables &Subj1, &Subj2, etc from the values of Deptdescription.*/

/* The total unique values of Deptdescription are stored in &Total */

data _null_;

set have;

by deptid;

if first.deptid then do;

i+1;

call symputx('subj'|| left(put(i,2.)),deptdescription);

end;

if last.deptid then call symputx('total',i);

run;

/* Within a macro %DO loop the data sets are created and those observations with the same */

/* Deptdescription values are read with a WHERE clause */

%macro test;

%do i=1 %to &total;

data &&subj&i;

set have;

where deptdescription="&&subj&i";

run;

%end;

%mend test;

/* invoke the macro */

%test

 The above process creates separate datasets based on the deptid and deptdescription.  The issue is Public Health is created twice (Public then Health) in separate datasets.  I tried using

length deptdescription $50; in the macro test area however I still get separate datasets whenever there is a space in the variable name.  How can I address this?

[Reeza]

 If Subj = Public Health this becomes

data &&subj&i.;

becomes:

data public health; <- This is not valid

Figure out how you want to name the data set and fix that step. 

This post addresses the issue you're seeing

https://blogs.sas.com/content/sasdummy/2015/01/26/how-to-split-one-data-set-into-many/

[s_lassen]

You have two possibilities: Either you change the variable to a valid SAS version 7 (or earlier) name, or you use option VALIDVARNAME=ANY and use a quoted string for your data set name. The second solution may be easier, as you can use the same macro variable for the WHERE clause and the data set name:

data "&&subj&i"n;
  set have;
  where deptdescription="&&subj&i";

So your datastep will now create a single table, called "Public Health", instead of two tables, one called "Public" and the other called "Health". But you will then have to refer to it as "Public Health"n.