Outputting a List of Values to a Series of Macro Variables

There are a number of possible ways to extract values from a dataset and store them in a numbered list of macro variables. The following macro demonstrates a technique to achieve this using Proc SQL.

proc sql noprint;   
   select count (distinct make) into :num_makes
   from sashelp.cars;

   select distinct make into :make_1 - :make_%left(&num_makes)
   from sashelp.cars;
quit;

%macro car_makes; 
  %do i = 1%to &num_makes;
    %put make_&i=&&make_&i;
  %end;
%mend;
%car_makes;

Running the program will calculate the number of discrete values and then store each one in a macro variable with an incremental numbering.

Note that the macro variables are written to the global symbol table and so are available to be used in the "car_makes" macro. This simply writes the values to the SAS log but could perform any type of processing;

Log:

make_1=Acura
make_2=Audi
make_3=BMW
make_4=Buick
make_5=Cadillac
make_6=Chevrolet
make_7=Chrysler
make_8=Dodge
make_9=Ford
make_10=GMC
make_11=Honda
... more values are listed

You can see from the log that each discrete car make has been stored in a numbered set of macro variables.  For more information on uses of Proc SQL or the Macro language view the SAS help or visit the SAS support site at www.support.sas.com.