System Options for Macros

SERROR System Option

Specifies whether the macro processor issues a warning message when a macro variable reference does not match a macro variable.

Valid in:

Configuration file

OPTIONS window

OPTIONS statement

SAS invocation

Type:

System option

Alias:

SERR | NOSERR

Default:

SERROR

PROC OPTIONS GROUP=

MACRO

Syntax
Details

Syntax

SERROR | NOSERROR

SERROR: issues a warning message when the macro processor cannot match a macro variable reference to an existing macro variable.
NOSERROR: issues no warning messages when the macro processor cannot match a macro variable reference to an existing macro variable.

Details

Several conditions can occur that prevent a macro variable reference from resolving. These conditions appear when one or more of the following is true:

the name in a macro variable reference is misspelled.
the variable is referenced before being defined.
the program contains an ampersand (& ) followed by a string, without intervening blanks between the ampersand and the string. For example:
```
if x&y then do;
if buyer="Smith&Jones, Inc." then do;
```

If your program uses a text string containing ampersands and you want to suppress the warnings, specify NOSERROR.

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