%sysfunc %str inside macro - order of processing - word scanner - macro processor

[Oligolas]

Hi,

I'm quoting a list of variables to process in a data step placed inside a macro.

I can't figure out why I need to remove the second %str to make this step work inside a macro.

Since I get the ERROR: Expected close parenthesis after macro function invocation not found.

What does the macro processor return when processing?

How SAS Processes Statements with Macro Activity 

%let paramcd=Alfred Louise;
%macro works();
   data want;
      set sashelp.class(where=(Name in ("%sysfunc(tranwrd(%sysfunc(compbl(&paramcd.)),%str( )," "))")
                       ));
   run;
%mend works;
%works;

%macro doesNotWork();
   data want;
      set sashelp.class(where=(Name in ("%sysfunc(tranwrd(%sysfunc(compbl(&paramcd.)),%str( ),%str(" ")))")
                       ));
   run;
%mend doesNotWork;
%doesNotWork;

[PaigeMiller]

Using quotes or double-quotes as text can get tricky inside the macro processor. You need to indicate that these are considered unmatched double-quotes, by using %" rather than just ". Now both macros work.

%let paramcd=Alfred Louise;

%macro works;
   data want;
      set sashelp.class(where=(Name in ("%sysfunc(tranwrd(%sysfunc(compbl(&paramcd.)),%str( )," "))")  ));
   run;
%mend works;
%works

%macro doesNotWork;
   data want;
      set sashelp.class(where=(Name in ("%sysfunc(tranwrd(%sysfunc(compbl(&paramcd.)),%str( ),%str(%" %")))")
                       ));
   run;
%mend doesNotWork;
%doesNotWork

[Oligolas]

you're both right

@Tom I sometimes pass special characters through %STR in other context and didn't expect SAS to crash here.

@PaigeMiller I'd expect SAS to recognize that the quotes inside %STR are matched?

[PaigeMiller · Accepted solution]

---

@Oligolas wrote:

you're both right

@PaigeMiller I'd expect SAS to recognize that the quotes inside %STR are matched?

---

And yet, it doesn't, because the quotes are not matched. Matched quotes indicate that what is between them is quoted, i.e. is a text string. You have a need for a double-quote character at the end of a text string, followed by a space, followed by a double-quote character to start another text string. You are not trying to quote the text between them.

As Tom says, you are passing the the %STR function text that doesn't have characters that need %STR. And so the interpretation is different.

[Tom]

Why did you add the %STR() to quote something that does not need quoting?  To include quotes in %STR() you need to escape them with %.