Put distinct values of a variable in a SAS dataset to a macro variable

This post was kindly contributed by SASTechies - go there to comment and to read the full post.

Here’s a macro that can put distinct values of a variable in a SAS dataset to a macro variable of your choice.

%macroput_distinct_varvalues_in_list(dsn,var,mac_var,dlm=comma,quotes=double);

%global&mac_var.;

%if&dlm eq comma %then %letdlm=%str(,);

%if&dlm eq pipe %then %letdlm=%str(|);

proc sql noprint;

select DISTINCT

%if%upcase(&quotes) eq SINGLE %then%do; “‘”||&var.||“‘”%end;

%else%if %upcase(&quotes) eq DOUBLE %then %do; quote(&var.) %end;

%else&var.;

into :&mac_var separated by “&dlm.”

from &dsn;

quit;

%let&mac_var = &&&mac_var;

%put&mac_var = &&&mac_var;

%mendput_distinct_varvalues_in_list;

For e.g.

%put_distinct_varvalues_in_list(sashelp.class,sex,gender);

would assign the values “F”,”M” to the macro variable gender.

This post was kindly contributed by SASTechies - go there to comment and to read the full post.