Using macro function in DATA step

[SAS_inquisitive]

This works.

%put %substr(CHAR_DATA,1,4);

But when used in DATA step it does not work.

data check;
  var=%substr(CHAR_DATA,1,4);
run;
******* or *********;
%macro test;
data check;
  var=%substr(CHAR_DATA,1,4);
run;
%mend test;
%test

Thanks for explanation. 

[Astounding · Accepted solution]

The statement works, but it doesn't do what you are expecting.  Macro language is not processing your data.  It has an entirely different function.  It generates the SAS language statements that will then process your data.  So this statement is legal:

%let newvar = %substr(CHAR_VAR, 1, 4);

It gives &NEWVAR the value CHAR (the first four characters in "CHAR_VAR").

That means that %SUBSTR works, and gives you a program that looks like this:

data check;

var = CHAR;

run;

Probably, this is not the program that you intended to generate.  So work backwards.  Start with what you would like to see as a SAS program, and then see where macro language might be able to help you get there.

Good luck.