Date:         Thu, 15 Feb 1996 12:06:00 EST
Reply-To:     "30747::STRICKLA" <STRICKLA%30747.decnet@JS-JTF.AF.MIL>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@UGA.CC.UGA.EDU>
From:         "30747::STRICKLA" <STRICKLA%30747.decnet@JS-JTF.AF.MIL>
Subject:      Using Macro Variables as Arrays
Comments: To: sas-l <sas-l%marist.bitnet@uga.cc.uga.edu>

                  I N T E R O F F I C E   M E M O R A N D U M
 
                                        Date:     15-Feb-1996 12:10pm EST
                                        From:     Christopher Alan Strickland
                                                  STRICKLA
                                        Dept:     MOT&E
                                        Tel No:   (407) 726-7351
 
TO:  _WINS%                               ( _DDN[sas-l%marist.bitnet@uga.cc.uga.
edu] )
 
Subject: Using Macro Variables as Arrays
 
I'm creating a macro variable array as follows:
 
data _null_;
   set target end=eof;
   call symput("vehnum"||put(_n_,.1),vehid);
   if eof then do;
      call symput ("vehtot",put(_n_,1.));
   end;
run;
 
This works great, gives me results like:
 
vehnum1=11
vehnum2=18
vehnum3=23
vehnum4=57
 
My problem occurs when trying to access this macro variable array inside of a
datastep.
 
Here's a synopsis of what I'm doing (symput doesn't work, %let always changes);
 
data x;
   array veh(&vehtot);
   retain veh1 - veh&vehtot x;
 
   if first.val then do;
      do i=1 to &vehtot;
         veh{i}=0;
      end;
      link xeq1;  (Also tryed symput, and %let, hoped link wouldn't resolve
                   %let, until called)
 
   end;
 
   do until (&x >= &vehtot or out=1);
      if veh{&x}=gpsveh then do;
         out=1;
         link xeq1;
      end;
      else do;
         if &&vehnum&x=gpsveh then do;
            veh{&x}=gpsveh;
            out=1;
            link xeq1;
         end;
         %let x=%eval(&x + 1)
      end;
   end;
 
return;
 
xeq1:
   %let x=1;
return;
 
Basically, I'm wanted to loop through and looke at vehnum1, vehnum2, vehnum3,
and vehnum4.
 
Any ideas, hints, suggestions.
 
+------------------------------------------+
| Chris Strickland                         |
| http://www.teg.saic.com/mote/people.html |
| strickla@js-jtf.af.mil                   |
+------------------------------------------+