It is sometimes necessary to process multi–value input parameters within a stored process. This sample illustrates a very basic example.

Consider the scenario that an input parameter named YEAR has been registered with a stored process that is executing on a SAS^® Stored Process Server. Multiple year values can be selected by the user from a list, and only those selected years will be displayed in printed output from the SASHELP.RETAIL data set.

Because a SAS macro variable can only have one value, one or more macro variables will be created when the user selects the year values and submits the stored process. If only one YEAR is selected by the user, then only one macro variable, named &YEAR, will be passed over to the stored process. However, if more than one YEAR value is selected by the user, multiple macro variables will be created. A numeric suffix is added to the parameter name to distinguish between values. The number of values is set in the macro variable YEAR0, the first value is set in the macro variable YEAR1, and so on. For example:

 
YEAR=<first selected value>
YEAR0=<the total number of selected values>
YEAR1=<first selected value>
YEAR2=<second selected value>
YEAR3=<third selected value>
...etc...

Therefore, if the user selects the values 1990, 1991 and 1992 from the list of years in the client application, the following macro variables will be created:

YEAR=1990
YEAR0=3
YEAR1=1990
YEAR2=1991
YEAR3=1992

Example code to process multiple input values for YEAR

/* Define macro to create list of years selected by the user */
%macro yearlist;
%global year0;

/* If more than one year value was selected then cycle through the values */
    %if %eval(&year0 ge 2) %then %do;
          %do i=1 %to &year0;
            &&year&i
          %end;
    %end;

/* If only one year value was selected  */
    %else &year

%mend yearlist;

/* Use the list of values in a WHERE statement */
%stpbegin;

proc print data=sashelp.retail;
where year in(%yearlist);
run;

%stpend;

Additional Documentation

Operating System and Release Information