removing leading blanks from a macro value

[Batman]

The following  code produces leading blanks before the value for "&median" below.   How can I remove the blanks?

Title3 "The median daily total between &min_date and &max_date was &median"; 

[Tom · Accepted solution]

If the spaces are not macro quoted you can just recreate the macro variable from its value.

%let median=&median;

If they are macro quoted then you might need the %unquote() function.

%let median=%unquote(&median);

But the real solution is to not put the spaces into the macro variable to begin with.

If you are making it with a data step then make sure the use the new (only 20 years old) CALL SYMPUTX() method instead of the ancient CALL SYMPUT() method.  That will will strip leading and trailing spaces.

data _null_;
  set have;
  call symputx('median',median);
run;

If you are making it with PROC SQL and the INTO clause then make sure to add the TRIMMED keyword.

proc sql noprint;
select min_date,max_date,median
  into :min_date trimmed
     , :max_date trimmed
     , :median trimmed 
  from have
;
quit;