how can I automatically count the number of items in a macro variable?

[Jiawenabby8]

Hi,

I would like to know how to automatically determine the number of items in & type(=26) instead of declaring 26 in the below script....
Just a very simple example:

%let type= A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W X Y Z ;

data _NULL_;

do i = 1 to 26;   <---- this value of 25 is what I would like to automate when I change &type.

put Number=i ;

end;

run;

[ChrisBrooks · Accepted solution]

Assuming they're always space separated then the countw function should do the trick like so

%let type= A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W X Y Z;
data _NULL_;
do i = 1 to countw("&type");  
put Number=i ;
end;
run;

[Reeza]

This may be a useful example for you: 

http://documentation.sas.com/?docsetId=mcrolref&docsetTarget=n1qvxz5u3uru7yn1nk7q64ohvwak.htm&docset...

and some more are here:

http://documentation.sas.com/?docsetId=mcrolref&docsetTarget=n02xowj8yuqfo4n0zzi98shu8qup.htm&docset...

[Jiawenabby8]

Your links are super helpful. Thanks so much!