Date:         Thu, 25 Jul 1996 21:54:13 -0400
Reply-To:     Patricia Flickner <pflick@OP.NET>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@UGA.CC.UGA.EDU>
From:         Patricia Flickner <pflick@OP.NET>
Organization: Flickner Enterprises
Subject:      Re: Splitting a quoted string in a macro

Robert Schechter wrote:
>
> Hi Fellow SAS-Lers,
>
> I am maintaining a program that has, WITHIN A MACRO, a quoted string literal
> that starts with a quote in column 1 goes to the end of the line and then
> continues again in column 1 of the next line. Our style standard calls for
> indentation and not continuing past column 72 (the last column visible in
> the editor). If I attempt to do this in standard base SAS format such as:
>
>       %DO;
>                   FOOT = ' long text ,,, '
>                                   'continued text';
>       %END;
>
> I get an error message. Any suggestions on how to do this in a macro?
>
> Thanks,
> Robert_Schechter@MERCK.COM
> Maxim Group SAS Consultant
> ****************************************************************************
> *********************************
> Disclaimer:
> The contents of this message express only the sender's opinion. This message
> does not  necessarily reflect the policy of Merck & Co., Inc.  All
> responsibility for the statements  made in this posting reside solely and
> completely with me.
> ****************************************************************************
> *********************************
 
Robert, don't split the string up.  I can't remember how far out SAS
reads the line, but it will continue reading to the next line until it
sees the second quote and the semi.  I've set up footnotes like that so
that I could make sure a footnote was left justified on a centered
printout (it had to be centered).  Pat Flickner