>13 %let wonder=%sysfunc(length(compress(&a))); >14 %put value of Wonder &wonder; >value of Wonder 12 > >I got the value of a correctly i.e 29. Here I don't understand this. Next I am trying to get the length of compressed(&a). I should get 2 here becaz the value >of a is 29 then the length of 29 should be 2.Is not it?.

This is the same problem as the other one. 12 is the length of "compress(29)". You need another %sysfunc in there.

>My one more equestion is why the follwong %cmpres does n't work. > >%let wondervar=123 4567; >%let wonder1=%sysfunc(length(%cmpres(&wondervar))); >%put value of wonder var1 &wonder1; > >24 %let wondervar=123 4567; >25 %let wonder1=%sysfunc(length(%cmpres(&wondervar))); >26 %put value of wonder var1 &wonder1; >value of wonder var1 8

The length of "123 4567" is 8. %cmpres reduces multiple blanks to a single blank, but doesn't eliminate all blanks. The data step function COMPRESS does, but it's not the same as the macro function %CMPRES - that's why they have different names.

>Here I am really confusing when should I use the macro functions and when should I use the regular functions with %sysfunc. You know what I mean.

The general rule I would follow is to use a macro function when an appropriate one is available, and to use a data step function if that's my only choice. It frequently will be, since there are many more data step functions than macro functions.

-- JackHamilton@FirstHealth.com Manager, Technical Development Metrics Department, First Health West Sacramento, California USA

>>> "Ramesh Makkena" <makkena@xoma.com> 03/20/2003 6:17 PM >>> Hi Jack,

Thanks for your earliest response.

But here are some suggestions:

1) The value of wonder is unresolved in the statement %put value of wonder var1 &wonder1; because you never closed the comment starting with "* here", so the %let statement wasn't executed.

* never mind I wrote the comment after I ran the program. It's ok. The problem comes here.

%let nvar=variable1 variable2 variable3;

%let a=%length(&nvar);

%put value of a is &a;

%let wonder=%sysfunc(length(compress(&a))); %put value of Wonder &wonder;

My log says :

7 %let nvar=variable1 variable2 variable3; 8 9 %let a=%length(&nvar); 10 11 %put value of a is &a; value of a is 29 12 13 %let wonder=%sysfunc(length(compress(&a))); 14 %put value of Wonder &wonder; value of Wonder 12

I got the value of a correctly i.e 29. Here I don't understand this. Next I am trying to get the length of compressed(&a). I should get 2 here becaz the value of a is 29 then the length of 29 should be 2.Is not it?.

2) The statement %let aok_but_no_success=%sysfunc(length(compress(&nvar))); returns the value 39 because that's the length of "compress(variable1 variable2 variable3)". The evaluation of text as a data step function applies to the word immediately after the open parenthesis, and not to any nested functions. You probably want %let aok_but_no_success=%sysfunc(length(%sysfunc(compress(&nvar)))); which returns 27.

Yes. You are correct. If I add one more %sysfunc I will get the correct value.

It got worked by adding %sysfunc before compress function:

%let wondervar=123 4567; %let wonder1=%sysfunc(length(%sysfunc(compress(&wondervar)))); %put value of wonder var1 &wonder1;

my log :

20 %let wondervar=123 4567; 21 %let wonder1=%sysfunc(length(%sysfunc(compress(&wondervar)))); 22 %put value of wonder var1 &wonder1; value of wonder var1 7

My one more equestion is why the follwong %cmpres does n't work.

%let wondervar=123 4567; %let wonder1=%sysfunc(length(%cmpres(&wondervar))); %put value of wonder var1 &wonder1;

24 %let wondervar=123 4567; 25 %let wonder1=%sysfunc(length(%cmpres(&wondervar))); 26 %put value of wonder var1 &wonder1; value of wonder var1 8

Here I am really confusing when should I use the macro functions and when should I use the regular functions with %sysfunc. You know what I mean.

Thanks, Ramesh makkena

-- JackHamilton@FirstHealth.com Manager, Technical Development Metrics Department, First Health West Sacramento, California USA

>>> "Ramesh Makkena" <makkena@XOMA.COM> 03/20/2003 3:50 PM >>> Hi,

I am really trying to understand the macro functions and system function calls in the macro variable assignment.

I am really trying to learn when can I use the macro functions and when can I use the functions through %sysfunc. I would appreciate if anybody can give me a brief view.

%let nvar=variable1 variable2 variable3;

* this is ok my little brain catch this;

%let a=%length(&nvar);

%put Length of NVAR &a;

* here my little brain breaks;

%let aok_but_no_success=%sysfunc(length(compress(&nvar)));

%put value of aok_but_no_success &aok_but_no_success;

* this one is also ok;

%let aok_success=%length(%sysfunc(compress(&nvar))); %put value of &aok_success;

* there I go, why can't I just use the cmpres macro function to compress the values;

%let comp_doubt=%cmpres(&nvar); %put value of &comp_doubt;

* here I was wondering I am trying to get the length of the length, you guys might wonder why I am doing this. Nothing just for curious. I am telling the truth I am developing a new S/W SASPHARMA :-). Just kidding..

%let wonder=%sysfunc(length(compress(&a))); %put value of Wonder &wonder;

%let wondervar=123 4567; %let wonder1=%sysfunc(length(compress(&wondervar))); %put value of wonder var1 &wonder1;

I would appreciate your time if anybody could give me a wonderful explanation.

TIA, Ramesh Makkena