SAS 9.1 Language Reference Dictionary, Volumes 1, 2 and 3

Returns an indication of the existence of a macro variable

Category: Macro

See: SYMEXIST Function in SAS Macro Language: Reference

Syntax

SYMEXIST ( argument )

Argument

argument

• can be one of the following items:

  • the name of a macro variable within double quotation marks but without an ampersand.

  • the name of a DATA step character variable, specified with no quotation marks, which contains a macro variable name.

  • a character expression that constructs a macro variable name.

Details

The SYMEXIST function searches any enclosing local symbol tables and then the global symbol table for the indicated macro variable and returns 1 if the macro variable is found or if the macro variable is not found.

For more information, see the 'SYMEXIST Function' in SAS Macro Language: Reference .