What this macro does

[Toni2]

hi, the below macro is a part from a complex huge macro code. I have copied only the first part of the macro. (it is not complete)

What i don't understand is if the &prefix._continuous_bands_count_&i._&j.  dataset needs to pre-exist before i run the macro below or it is created by the macro? 

When i tried to run it i received an error that the dataset does not exist but i am not very sure if the macro creates empty dataset to be used later

%macro continuous_psi(prefix=,vars=,output=);
                                                                                                                  
	%let num_vars = %sysfunc(countw(%superq(vars)));

	%do i = 1 %to &num_vars.;

		%let var&i. = %qscan(%superq(vars), &i., %str( ));
		%put var&i. = &&var&i..;

		data &prefix._continuous_bands_count_&i.;
			set
                               %do j = 1 %to 6;
					&prefix._continuous_bands_count_&i._&j. (in = a&j.)
				%end;
				;

			%do j = 1 %to 6;
				if a&j. = 1 then band = &j.;
			%end;

			volume = max(0, volume);

		run;

[Kurt_Bremser · Accepted solution]

These datasets

&prefix._continuous_bands_count_&i._&j.

are used in the SET statement and need to exist before the macro is called.

[Toni2]

thank you