Though I can't see my own email message sent to sas-L (and never have-WHY???)Thanks to all for your input. I'll sit back and evaluate what I received for feedback. Great responses.

> From: DOUG CONRAD [mailto:dconrad@CICINFO.COM] > can a macro return a value similar to a function? > For example I would like to test the value of the # of obs in > a data set but would like to reference it such as: > > %if %getvalue =1 %then %do: > etc; etc; > %end;

Sure, just write your macro with no SAS semicolons. ... This statement may take you a minute to get. ready?

%macro NOT(N); %IF &N = 0 %THEN 1; %ELSE %IF &N = 1 %THEN 0;%MEND; See, no SAS semicolons, only macro semicolons;

Art Carpenter has a NOBS macro that 'returns' a value, such as you are looking for. %macro WHATEVER; %*all these macro statements; %*return:; &VALUE. %MEND;

watch out for them SAS semicolons, they will byte you.

Ron Fehd the macro maven CDC Atlanta GA USA RJF2@cdc.gov ---> cheerful provider of UNTESTED SAS code!*! <---