sql - SAS Concatenate Multiple Variables to Create Data-Driven Macro Statements -

in order keep process data-driven, i'm trying concatenate multiple variables, separated comma, in order put them in proc sql list call in multiple macro statements otherwise clutter sas pogram.

take following sample dataset:

data test;   input year condition $ qrts $12. sample $;   datalines;   2008  mi  (1,2,3,4)     2008  mi  (1,2,3,4)   b   ; run; 

i'd concatenate these variables together, again separated comma, , add %append front create huge list of macro statements. new string variable, , macro statements, like:

%append(2008,mi,(1,2,3,4),a);

%append(2008,mi,(1,2,3,4),b);

i've used following compile strings of means , confidence intervals, , imagine similar (i cannot figure out these quotes, commas, , bars data):

ci=compress(put(mean,7.2))||"("||compress(lo)||","|| compress(hi)||")";

once long string variable created, select variable long list through proc sql statement like:

proc sql;     select distinct *new long string variable*     into: macrolist separated ' '     test; quit; 

ultimately, running &macrolist. call in hundreds of macro statements append multiple datasets large master dataset. appreciate insight.

answered own question. need:

data test1; set test;     string=compress(%nrstr("%append""("||compress(year)||","||compress(condition)||","|| compress(qrts)||","|| compress(sample)||")"),""""); run; 

%append can replaced macro name created, useful.