Gerald and SAS-L'ers: Try this macro: It returns the scope of a macro variable given the variable name. This is particularly handy inside of nested macros when you want to discover which macro a particular variable is operating inside of. Submit "%put %mvexist(sysdate);" to see how it works.

%macro mvexist (_var); /** OPEN THE VMACRO VIEW WHICH CONTAINS INFO ABOUT MACOR VARS **/ %let dsid=%sysfunc(open(sashelp.vmacro (where=(name="%upcase(&_var)")))); /** FETCH A RECORD INTO THE PDV IF IT EXISTS **/ %let rc=%sysfunc(fetch(&dsid)); /** RETURN VARNUM 1, THE SCOPE **/ %sysfunc(getvarc(&dsid,1)) /** CLOSE THE VIEW **/ %let rc=%sysfunc(close(&dsid)); %mend;

- David Ward

> Gerald Leahy wrote: > > > > Does anyone know of a way to determine whether a macro variable has been > > defined without producing a warning? I've tried using proc sql to > > access dictionary.macros, only to find out the macro needs to be called > > from within a datastep. Macro quoting is not a strong suit, so reading > > about quoting functions has been a little fustrating. I suspect the > > answer lies in %SUPERQ. > > > > Can anybody give me a few lines for checking existence and then > > performing some actions based on the test. > > > > Thanks in advance! > > > > Sample: > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > > > %MACRO VAREXIST(VAR); > > %IF &var is a macro variable %THEN %DO; > > . > > . > > statements; > > . > > . > > %END; > > %ELSE %DO; > > . > > . > > statements; > > . > > . > > %END; > > %MEND VAREXIST; > > > > ___________________________________________________________________ > > > > Gerald Leahy > > leahyg@pprd.abbott.com > > Abbott Laboratories > > D436 AP9A-2 > > (847) 937-2066 >