I hope this is what you had in mind:

%macro getmon(smonth, syear, curmonth) ;

%* Assume, to make things easier, that the start month (smonth) ; %* is entered as a number. ;

%let mon1 = jan; %let mon2 = feb; %let mon3 = mar; %let mon4 = apr; %let mon5 = may; %let mon6 = jun; %let mon7 = jul; %let mon8 = aug; %let mon9 = sep; %let mon10 = oct; %let mon11 = nov; %let mon12 = dec;

%* Set up the first month. ; %let startmon =&&mon&smonth ;

%* Generate the 24 months based on the start month (smonth). ; %* Note that you could make this a parameter as well. ; %do i = 1 %to 24;

%* Resolve testmon to mon1, then resolve mon1 to jan. ; %let testmon = &&startmon ; %* Resolve to jan97 ; %let testmon = &testmon&syear ;

%if &curmonth eq &testmon %then %let ol&testmon = %str(match found); %else %let ol&testmon =%str( no match);

%* A test to see if the current month is flagged. ; %if &&ol&testmon eq %str(match found) %then %put curmonth=&curmonth ;

%* build the next month. ; %let smonth = %eval(&smonth + 1) ; %if (&smonth < 13) %then %let startmon=&&mon&smonth ; %else %do ; %let smonth = 1 ; %let startmon =&mon1 ; %let syear = %eval(&syear + 1) ; %* Make it year 2000 compliant. :) ; %if (&syear < 10) %then %let syear = 0&syear ; %if (&syear > 99) %then %let syear = 00 ; %end ;

%end ; %mend ;

%getmon(2, 96, mar97) ;

TERJESON Mark wrote: > > * Dear macro guru types, > I am drawing a blank as to a way to consolidate > this repetative code into a %DO loop or something. > I really would like an iterative process where 24 > months could be specified, such as jul95-jun97. ; > > * ...hopefully in open code or in a macro. yes, it > could be done in a data step and output with > SYMPUT()s, but I was curious to see if it could be > done with macro code only. ; > > %let curmonth = mar97; > > . > . > . > %if &curmonth eq feb97 %then %let olfeb97=%str(match found); > %else %let olfeb97=%str( no match); > %if &curmonth eq mar97 %then %let olmar97=%str(match found); > %else %let olmar97=%str( no match); > %if &curmonth eq apr97 %then %let olapr97=%str(match found); > %else %let olapr97=%str( no match); > %if &curmonth eq may97 %then %let olmay97=%str(match found); > %else %let olmay97=%str( no match); > . > . > . > > * where one copy can be used in a loop patching the 3 locations with > increasing months; > > %if &curmonth eq ????? %then %let ol?????=%str(match found); > %else %let ol?????=%str( no match); > > PS: I know the %STR function isn't required with what is showing here, > but in the > real application it is required due to other content. > > for those willing to look at this, thanks in advance! > > Mark Terjeson > Office of Forecasting and Policy Analysis > DSHS Headquarters > State of Washington > terjemw@dshs.wa.gov