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jmkroll
Calcite | Level 5
I have been pulling my hair out with this. I want to create a macro that submits some SQL code. The SQL code contains a WHERE clause using the LIKE operator. I need to include a macro variable in the LIKE string. Here is what it looks like.

%Macro MyMac(name);
Proc SQL;
Select *
From somefile
WHERE somefield LIKE "%&name%";
%Mend;

%MyMac(jeff);

The resulting SQL code should look like

Proc SQL
Select *
From somefile
WHERE somefield LIKE "%jeff%";

Those two percent signs are killing me. Can anyone come up with a series of macro functions that would result in the string Im looking for? Your help is appreciated.

Jeff
2 REPLIES 2
Olivier
Pyrite | Level 9
What you need is a QUOTING function. Quoting is the art of hiding characters, preventing the macro processor to do them wrong. In that case, %NRBQUOTE seems to work out fine.
[pre]
WHERE name LIKE "%NRBQUOTE(%)&name%NRBQUOTE(%)" ;
[/pre]
Regards.
Olivier
jmkroll
Calcite | Level 5
Thanks Olivier. I had a feeling it would be something as simple as that. It worked perfectly.

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