keyword: list processing > From: Craig Gale [mailto:cgale@CC.USU.EDU] > This feels like a straight-forward problem, but I can't find > the answer and would appreciate any input! > > I have a dataset (FILEDS) that contains two fields, FILE1 and > TABLE1. FILE1 is a character string that contains a filename, > including path. (filename is actually an Access database) > TABLE1 is a character string that contains an Access table > name. FILEDS contains about 500-records, pertaining to 500 > unique FILE1/TABLE1 combinations. I would like to pass the > values of FILE1 and TABLE1 into a macro. > > For example, I have a macro called %compare(dsdb,dst) that > I'm trying to call in the following way: > > data _null_; > set FILEDS; > %compare(FILE1,TABLE1); > run; > > Of course, the parameters dsdb and dst are assigned the > literal values FILE1 and TABLE1. How can I assign dsdb and > dst the actual values of FILE1 and TABLE1??

note: macro array is a good solution, too, as others has already posted

you may also use either call execute: data _null_; set Fileds; call execute( '%nrstr(%compare(dsdb=' !! trim(FILE1) !! ',dst=' !! trim(TABLE1) !! '))' ); run; or SQL: PROC SQL;select '%compare(dsdb=' !! trim(FILE1) !! ',dst=' !! trim(TABLE1) !! ')' into :List separated by ' ' from FILEDS ;quit; &List.

Ron Fehd the SQL into:macro maven CDC Atlanta GA USA RJF2@cdc.gov

Repetition obfuscates! Repetition reduction enhances elegance! Repetition reduction furthers finesse!