Most of the programmers who are new to SAS macro programming are confused between the IF condition and %IF in SAS Macros. The usage of DO END and %DO %END in macro programming also creates confusion. This tutorial describes the difference with examples which would help to understand the practical usage of these techniques.
When to use IF and %IF in SAS Macros
1. IF statement cannot be used outside data step whereas %IF can be used outside and inside data step but within the macro.
The following program does not work as the %IF is not valid outside macro.
First Step - SAS checks for macro statements/macro variables and executing them. In this case, it sets i is equal to 1, then writes a log " the value of i is equal to 1". Once this process is completed, it checks DO LOOP and run iterations and multiply each iteration value by 5 and prints to the log.
Method II : %DO %END
When to use IF and %IF in SAS Macros
1. IF statement cannot be used outside data step whereas %IF can be used outside and inside data step but within the macro.
Example 1 :
In the following program, we are telling SAS to check the value if it is greater than 10 and then run procedure dependending on the conditional statement.
%IF works to run procedures -
%macro temp(N=);IF Statement does not work to run procedure.
%if &N. > 10 %then %do;
proc means data = sashelp.class MEAN;
var age;
run;
%end;
%else %put better luck next time;
%mend;
%temp(N=19);
%macro temp2(N=);
data _null_;
if &N. > 10 then do;
proc means data = sashelp.class MEAN;
var age;
run;
end;
else put "the value is less than or equal to 10";
run;
%mend;
%temp2(N=11);
2. The %IF can only be used inside of a macro. In other words, you cannot use it in a program without it in a macro definition (%macro yourmacro; %mend;)
The following program does not work as the %IF is not valid outside macro.
%let N = 12;
%if &N. > 10 %then %do;
proc means data = sashelp.class MEAN;
var age;
run;
%end;
%else %put better luck next time;
3. .SAS Macro will be executed first and once completed, data step statements will be executed.
%macro test;
data temp;
do j =1 to 5;
N = j *5;
put N;
%let i = 1;
%if &i %then %put the value of i is equal to 1;
end;
run;
%mend;
%test;
 |
| %IF vs IF statement |
When either of DO END or %DO %END can be used
If you're generating code to automate repetitive task within a data step, and you can use either %do-%end or do-end.
In the following program, we are generating 5 values starting from 5 and ends with 25 with the difference of 5 between values.
Method I : DO END
data temp;
do j =1 to 5;
N = j *5;
output;
end;
drop j;
run;
Method II : %DO %END
%macro test;
data temp;
%do j = 1 %to 5;
N = &j. *5;
output;
%end;
run;
%mend;
%test;
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Deepanshu founded ListenData with a simple objective - Make analytics easy to understand and follow. He has over 10 years of experience in data science. During his tenure, he has worked with global clients in various domains like Banking, Insurance, Private Equity, Telecom and Human Resource.
Thank you very much sir, this is very clear and well formatted to read!
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