Thank you KurtBremser I'm still really struggling even though I've put in the %nrstr. My ultimate goal is to determine the number of rows within a SAS dataset ultimately and I am happy to use any method. The existing program is using a PROC SQL to count rows within a macro, but maybe passing the number of rows into the macro would be fine too, but then I am still left with the same issue I think. Ultimately I am processing 6 tables, so I pass in the table name to a macro so it knows which one to use, but the macro also needs to know the number of rows of the table before it can process it, so this PROC SQL is within that macro. When I call the macro do I need to use a call execute if the call is within a data setup (1) but not within a macro vs. (2) within a macro? Should the PROC SQL be taken out of the macro and moved a level up where the number of rows is just passed in as a variable? Is there a SAS function which simply returns number of rows in a table (I would have thought this was would be such a basic function and need, but I can't seem to locate one). Kind regards and thank yoU! ... View more

Yes, sorry, the actual code I am using is more specific but I was making more general here, but should have omitted the the_ ... View more

Thank you for this, in my example the proc sql would be within the %macro above, does %nrstr force each line within %macro to complete before moving onto the next one, is that what you mean? Kind regards ... View more

Thank you, that sounds tricky and interesting.   Do you know a way around that?    Kind regards ... View more

MLOGIC(APPLY_CONTROL_TABLE):  %LET (variable name is TABLE_SIZE ) MPRINT(APPLY_CONTROL_TABLE):   proc sql noprint; SYMBOLGEN:  Macro variable TABLE_NAME resolves to the_table_name MPRINT(APPLY_CONTROL_TABLE):   select count(*) into: TABLE_SIZE from the_table_name; MPRINT(APPLY_CONTROL_TABLE):   quit; MLOGIC(APPLY_CONTROL_TABLE):  %PUT &=TABLE_SIZE SYMBOLGEN:  Macro variable TABLE_SIZE resolves to TABLE_SIZE=   Thank you, above is the log.   If I run this on its own (Run Selection): proc sql noprint; select count(*) into: TABLE_SIZE from table_name; quit; then it works (I get TABLE_SIZE=3)   BUT ... running it within the macro it does not come back with anything at all in TABLE_SIZE.   It is so confounding.   Do you see any problem with what I am going?   Kind regards     ... View more

Thank you, it is a SAS table. Can the proc sql run within a IF THEN DO; and END; (within a macro)? ... View more

Thank you kiranv_ , I am passing the table_name into the macro, and it seems to be recognised OK, sorry I should have said before. ... View more

Thank you, I've just did that but still getting the same warning message.   The table is identified it seems but it can't count the rows.  Kind regards ... View more

Thank you for this, I don't need to use it outside the macro but this is great info thank you ... View more

Thank you SASKiwi    I am running this code within a macro where I am passing the table_name in as a variable so technically I am using:   %let table_size=; proc sql noprint; select count(*) into :table_size from &table_name.; quit; However, I still can't obtain the table_size, it continues to be unresolved (still nothing in it when I print it) whereas it should come back as 3 as there are 3 rows in the table.   Ultimately, all I want is to know within a macro is how many rows are in table_name. (the variable passed to the table) and store the row count in a variable which I can use throughout the same macro.    Note:  the macro is able to successfully determine the correct value of table_name, it just can't count the rows.   Any other suggestions would be so appreciated.   Kind regards ... View more