Date:         Fri, 9 Apr 2004 21:56:18 -0400
Reply-To:     Richard Ristow <wrristow@mindspring.com>
Sender:       "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <SPSSX-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Richard Ristow <wrristow@mindspring.com>
Subject:      Re: need syntax help with string declaration in Macro
Comments: To: Larry Chan <LCHAN@DPSCS.STATE.MD.US>
In-Reply-To:  <200404091857.i39Ivm027354@listserv.cc.uga.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

At 02:57 PM 4/9/2004, Larry Chan wrote:

>define macname (arg1 = !tokens(1)).
>string tapesmm(!arg).
                 ----
>compute tapesmm=tape_smm.
>!enddefine.
>
>macname arg1 = 'A8'.
>======================================
> >Error # 4355 in column 16.  Text: !ARG
> >The specified format does not begin with a letter.  All SPSS formats begin
> >with letters.
> >This command not executed.

You have "!arg" in the STRING statement; you mean "!arg1", which is the
name of your macro argument. Since "!arg" is not defined as a macro
variable, its 'expansion' is itself. As the error message says, you're
specifying "!arg" as the format.



>   Does this STRING declaration not work with macros?
>
>Larry Chan