BookmarkSubscribeRSS Feed
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.

sas-innovate-wordmark-2025-midnight.png

Register Today!

Join us for SAS Innovate 2025, our biggest and most exciting global event of the year, in Orlando, FL, from May 6-9. Sign up by March 14 for just $795.


Register now!

How to Concatenate Values

Learn how use the CAT functions in SAS to join values from multiple variables into a single value.

Find more tutorials on the SAS Users YouTube channel.

SAS Training: Just a Click Away

 Ready to level-up your skills? Choose your own adventure.

Browse our catalog!

Discussion stats
  • 2 replies
  • 842 views
  • 0 likes
  • 2 in conversation