Date:         Sat, 23 Feb 2008 11:30:22 +0100
Reply-To:     Stefan Pohl <stefan.pohl@ISH.DE>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Stefan Pohl <stefan.pohl@ISH.DE>
Subject:      problem in macro programming
Comments: cc: "Howard Schreier <hs AT dc-sug DOT org>"
          <schreier.junk.mail@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <200802230036.m1MNKPKv021898@mailgw.cc.uga.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Dear SAS-group,

> >> > within a macro I want to transform a numerical id in a character id.
> >> > Normally you write idChar=PUT(id,4.); if your biggest id is for
> >> > example 1208.
> >> > I want to generalize the 4. information as it depends on my data set.

> The BEST3. format should work well with positive integers up
> to and including 999. So what is meant by "does not work"?
> Please post test data and runnable code along with the explanation.

Here is a test macro and a test data set. You will find indise the macro
code my comments.


 %MACRO test(data,id);

PROC MEANS DATA=&data NOPRINT;
 VAR &id;
 OUTPUT OUT = idmax_&data max=maxid;
RUN;

DATA digits_&data (DROP = maxid);
  SET idmax_&data  (obs=1 keep=maxid);
  digits = int(log10(maxid))+1;
RUN;

DATA _null_;
  SET digits_&data;
  call symputx("digits",Length(Strip(digits)));
  *stop;
RUN;


DATA &data.1 (DROP=&id RENAME=(idChar=&id));
 SET &data;
  LENGTH idChar $10000.;

  *idChar=PUT(&id,2.);                                         * This works
well;
  idChar=PUT(&id,Best&digits..);                               *
Alternatively, this way not. Why???;

RUN;

%MEND test;


DATA test;
  INPUT id;
  CARDS;
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
;
RUN;

%test(test,id)


Best wishes, Stefan.