Apparently I owe the list an apology for taking up their time.

As Mark and Chang note, the statement

If XVAR2="&xvar." then do...

works.

Oddly, yesterday when I ran my code, I got an error at this section. The error disappeared when I replaced the "&xvar." with "XVARNAME" (removing the macro variable reference and using the actual literal instead).

Today when I ran the same code, there is no error. Since I cannot recreate the error, I'm left scratching my head.

Apologies,

Warren Schlechte

-----Original Message----- From: Terjeson, Mark [mailto:Mterjeson@russell.com] Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2010 10:44 AM To: Warren Schlechte; SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU Subject: RE: Creating Quoted Macro Variable for Text Comparison

Hi Warren,

You're syntax is correct. Any chance that if you are getting an error or malfunction that it is due to something else?

One likely possibility is the way the dataset B gets constructed. For example if you run the sample code below you will see that it is successful. However, if you change applepie to apple it will be unsuccessful. The XVAR2 variable will be created with the length of the first occurance which means that apple is a length of 5 and then when you run the sample code the match will fail due to XVARNAME not equaling XVARN. So you see your syntax can be correct but some other influence tripping up the situation.

* sample data ; data B; XVARNAME=1; XVAR2='applepie'; output; XVARNAME=1; XVAR2='XVARNAME'; output; XVARNAME=1; XVAR2='banana'; output; XVARNAME=2; XVAR2='misc'; output; run;

%let xvar=XVARNAME;

Data A; Set B; Where &xvar. = 1; put / XVARNAME= XVAR2=; If XVAR2="&xvar." then do; put 'XVAR2 matched'; end; run;

Hope this is helpful.

Mark Terjeson Investment Business Intelligence Investment Management & Research Russell Investments 206-505-2367

Russell Global Leaders in Multi-Manager Investing

-----Original Message----- From: SAS(r) Discussion [mailto:SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of Warren Schlechte Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2010 7:58 AM To: SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU Subject: Creating Quoted Macro Variable for Text Comparison

I what to be able to use a macro variable in open code as both regular and quoted text, but try as I might, I cannot get it right. I can get the literal part no problem, but not the quoted text. I have read some of the macro-quoting functions papers, but have not yet been able to figure out which one to use and how.

Here's what I want:

%let xvar= XVARNAME;

Data A; Set B; Where &xvar. =condition; /* Here it is used as a literal as in Where XVARNAME = condition */ If XVAR2="&xvar." then do... /* Here I want it used "XVARNAME" as quoted text */

I know this is simple (if you know what to do) so thanks for your help.

And happy holidays to all on this list.

Warren Schlechte HOH Fisheries Science Center 5103 Junction Hwy Mt. Home, TX 78058 Phone 830.866.3356 x214 Fax 830.866.3549