%let name = %sysfunc(catx(%str( ),BILL,CLINTON)); %put &name;

%sysfunc arguments don't take quotes, so you have to generate a space without quotes - %str( ).

-Joe

On Sun, Jul 26, 2009 at 2:12 PM, Mike Zdeb <msz03@albany.edu> wrote:

> hi ... any takers ??? > > in the following, the only %LET STNUM= version that works is the one > in which no quotes are placed around the two-letter state abbreviation > > can some "macro guru" please tell me why > > * example 1 ... works; > data _null_; > call symputx('stnum',stfips('NC')); > run; > %put &stnum; > > * example 2 ... does not work; > %let stnum=%sysfunc(stfips('NC')); > %put &stnum; > > * example 3 ... does not work; > %let stnum=%qsysfunc(stfips('NC')); > %put &stnum; > > * example 4 ... works; > %let stnum=%sysfunc(stfips(NC)); > %put &stnum; > > and, same issue ... > > * works; > data _null_; > call symputx('name',catx(' ','BILL','CLINTON')); > run; > %put &name; > > * how do you do the above with %sysfunc; > %let name=%sysfunc(fill-in-the-blanks) > > thanks > > -- > Mike Zdeb > U@Albany School of Public Health > One University Place > Rensselaer, New York 12144-3456 > P/518-402-6479 F/630-604-1475 >