Using numeric macro variable within character values

[DavyJones]

Hi,

I have several datasets named like file_1, file_2, ..., file_20. I need to define a variable named model in each dataset with the value of model_i, in which i represents the number associated with each file. For example, I need to have model=model_1; in file_1 dataset.

I tried the following code, but it doesn't work.

%macro modeltype;

%do i=1 %to 20;

data file_&i;

set file_&i;

model="model_&i";

run;

%end;

%mend;

%modeltype;

I appreciate any suggestion to fix this code.

Thanks.

[Astounding · Accepted solution]

With a small change your code should be fine.  Add this line before the SET statement:

length model $ 8;

That way, if you ever combine the files, you will have MODEL defined the same way in all files.

Now you didn't really say with "didn't work" means.  So if there's some other problem, you might have to provide a detail or two.  For example, perhaps MODEL already exists in the incoming files, possibly as a numeric variable.

[DavyJones]

Thanks. After specifying the length, the variable was properly defined.