1. Retrieving Macro Variables in the DATA Step4
Retrieving Macro Variables in the DATA Step

2. Obtain the value of a macro variable during DATA step execution
Obtain the value of a macro variable during DATA step execution. Describe the difference between the SYMGET function and macro variable references.

3. create macro variables
Review
create macro variables
%LET

4. Review
create macro variables
retrieve macro variables
%LET
&macvar

5. Review create macro variables retrieve macro variables
word scanning time
%LET
&macvar

6. Review create macro variables retrieve macro variables
word scanning time
%LET
&macvar
execution time
CALL SYMPUTX

7. The SYMGET Function create macro variables retrieve macro variables
word scanning time
%LET
&macvar
execution time
CALL SYMPUTX
SYMGET(macvar)

8. The SYMGET Function
Retrieve a macro variable’s value during DATA step execution with the SYMGET function.
Symbol Table
Program Data Vector
DATA Step
Variables
SYMGET

9. The SYMGET Function SYMGET(macro-variable)
macro-variable can be specified as either of the following:
character literal
DATA step character expression
A DATA step variable created by the SYMGET function is a character variable with a length of 200 bytes unless it has been previously defined.

10. Create a series of macro variables to store customer names.
data _null_;
set orion.customer;
call symputx('name'||left(Customer_ID),
customer_Name);
run;
%put _user_;

11. The SYMGET Function
Example: Look up customer names from the symbol table.
data InternetCustomers;
keep order_date customer_ID customer_name;
set orion.order_fact;
if order_type=3;
length Customer_Name $ 20;
Customer_Name=symget('name'||left(customer_ID));
run;
proc print data=InternetCustomers;
var order_date customer_ID customer_name;
title "Internet Customers";
The LENGTH statement is important to avoid a default length of 200.