Why "ERROR 22-322: Syntax error" when running: array alts[13] $12 _temporary_ (’Update’ ...

[calmac]

Hi all,

I recently started using macros to create designs for my experiments. I successfully created a Balanced Incomplete Blocked Design (BIBD). Now I'm dealing with this code that should display the BIBD using the actual attribute names rather than just numbers:

data _null_;
array alts[13] $12 _temporary_ (’Update’ ’Notes’ ’Comments’ ’Wall posts’ ’Private messages’ ’Chat’ ’Groups’ ’Newsfeed’ ’Like’ ’Photos/Videos’ ’Events’ ’Gaming’ ’Fan pages’);
set sasuser.bibd; /* read design */
put alts[x1] +(-1) ’, ’ /* print each attr, comma separated */
alts[x2] +(-1) ’, ’ alts[x3] +(-1) ’, ’ alts[x4];
run;

However, I got two errors, the log says: 

42 data _null_;
43 array alts[13] $12 _temporary_ (’Update’ ’Notes’ ’Comments’ ’Wall posts’ ’Private messages’
-
22
76
43 ! ’Chat’ ’Groups’ ’Newsfeed’ ’Like’ ’Photos/Videos’ ’Events’ ’Gaming’ ’Fan pages’);
ERROR 22-322: Syntax error, expecting one of the following: a quoted string, a numeric constant,
a datetime constant, a missing value, iterator, (.

ERROR 76-322: Syntax error, statement will be ignored.

44 set sasuser.bibd; /* read design */
45 put alts[x1] +(-1) ’, ’ /* print each attr, comma separated */
-
22
200
46 alts[x2] +(-1) ’, ’ alts[x3] +(-1) ’, ’ alts[x4];
- -
22 22
200 200
ERROR 22-322: Syntax error, expecting one of the following: a name, a quoted string, arrayname, #, (,
+, /, //, ;, @, @@, OVERPRINT, _ALL_, _BLANKPAGE_, _ODS_, _PAGE_.

I suspect that both errors are due to some sort of format/versioning issue but I have not been able to understand where the problem lies. System is SAS 9.4 TS Level 1M5. I do apologise in advance if the question is mundane to the experts, I'm still a beginner. Thank you in advance for any suggestion.

[Ksharp]

 ’Private messages’
is over 12 characters.

Try  $ 40 .....

[RW9 · Accepted solution]

Well, and not sure this matters, when I copy just the code I get funny quote marks:

data _null_;
array alts[13] $12 _temporary_ (’Update’ ’Notes’ ’Comments’ ’Wall posts’ ’Private messages’ ’Chat’ ’Groups’ ’Newsfeed’ ’Like’ ’Photos/Videos’ ’Events’ ’Gaming’ ’Fan pages’);

run;

When I replace those quotes with ', then the code runs fine.  I would suggest starting a new session and running again, its possible you have things hanging over from previous runs, especially if it fails later on.

This worked for me:

data tmp;
  array alts[13] $12 _temporary_ ('Update' 'Notes' 'Comments' 'Wall posts' 'Private messages' 'Chat' 'Groups' 'Newsfeed' 'Like' 'Photos/Videos' 'Events' 'Gaming' 'Fan pages');
run;

[calmac]

Thank you RW9, and thank you KurtBremser for pointing me to the little running man. My bad, I'll use a proper editor. Cheers

[Kurt_Bremser]

PLEASE post code using the "little running man" button. Your code as posted contains non-ASCII quotes and is therefore completely unusable.

[Kurt_Bremser]

As I see it, those non-standard quotes are the reason for your syntax ERROR.

STRONG HINT: never use word processors for programming, only suitable text editors like the SAS Enhanced Editor or notepad++.

This code works:

data _null_;
array alts[13] $12 _temporary_ ('Update' 'Notes' 'Comments' 'Wall posts' 'Private messages' 'Chat' 'Groups' 'Newsfeed' 'Like' 'Photos/Videos' 'Events' 'Gaming' 'Fan pages');
run;

[ballardw]

Post code and log into a code box opened using the forum's {I} as below:

73   array alts[13] $12 _temporary_ (’Update’ ’Notes’ ’Comments’ ’Wall posts’ ’Private messages’
                                     -
                                     22
                                     76
73 ! ’Chat’ ’Groups’ ’Newsfeed’ ’Like’ ’Photos/Videos’ ’Events’ ’Gaming’ ’Fan pages’);
ERROR 22-322: Syntax error, expecting one of the following: a quoted string, a numeric constant,
              a datetime constant, a missing value, iterator, (.

ERROR 76-322: Syntax error, statement will be ignored.

74   set sasuser.bibd; /* read design */
ERROR: File SASUSER.BIBD.DATA does not exist.
75   put alts[x1] +(-1) ’, ’ /* print each attr, comma separated */
                        -
                        22
                        200
76   alts[x2] +(-1) ’, ’ alts[x3] +(-1) ’, ’ alts[x4];
                    -                   -
                    22                  22
                    200                 200
ERROR 22-322: Syntax error, expecting one of the following: a name, a quoted string, arrayname,
              #, (, +, /, //, ;, @, @@, OVERPRINT, _ALL_, _BLANKPAGE_, _ODS_, _PAGE_.

ERROR 200-322: The symbol is not recognized and will be ignored.

77   run;

The message window reformats the code. With the above it is easy to see that the error is indicated by the _ character and  is coming from the smart quote before Update. @RW9 is correct about the smart quote issue.

smart quote   ’
program quote '