How do you reference a macro variable in SAS?

After a macro variable is created, you typically use the variable by referencing it with an ampersand preceding its name (&variable-name), which is called a macro variable reference. These references perform symbolic substitutions when they resolve to their value. You can use these references anywhere in a SAS program.

What are SAS macro variables?

Macro variables are tools that enable you to dynamically modify the text in a SAS program through symbolic substitution. The value of a macro variable remains constant until it is specifically changed. Macro variables are independent of SAS data set variables.

How do you identify a macro variable in SAS?

Every macro variable created is stored in one of two symbol tables. The symbol table lists the macro variable name and its value and determines its scope….Here are a few statements that are very helpful in determining which symbol table the macro variables are stored in:

1. %PUT _USER_;
2. %PUT _LOCAL_;
3. %PUT _GLOBAL_;

How does macro work in SAS?

SAS has a powerful programming feature called Macros which allows us to avoid repetitive sections of code and to use them again and again when needed. It also helps create dynamic variables within the code that can take different values for different run instances of the same code.

What happens when you use a macro variable in SAS?

SAS forms the resulting words automatically. Sometimes when you use a macro variable reference as a prefix, the reference does not resolve as you expect if you simply concatenate it. Instead, you might need to delimit the reference by adding a period to the end of it.

Is it OK to use a macro variable in a title statement?

If you are making them in a separate macro then the values may currently only be local and not exist after the macro terminates. I use macro variables like this frequently in my work and as long as the macro variable has the correct scope and generates valid text I have no problems in title statements.

When to use quotation marks in a SAS statement?

If you use an automatic macro variable in the title text, you must enclose the title text in double quotation marks. The SAS macro facility will resolve the macro variable only if the text is in double quotation marks. For more information about including quotation marks as part of the title, see Expressions in SAS Language Reference: Concepts.

How to change the color of a title in SAS?

For example, this code will make the title “Red, White, and Blue” appear in different colors. specifies text that is enclosed in single or double quotation marks. You can customize titles by inserting BY variable values (#BYVAL n ), BY variable names (#BYVAR n ), or BY lines (#BYLINE) in titles that are specified in PROC steps.