Calling a Macro

This section shows you how to call a macro. (To define a macro, see Defining a Macro).

To call a macro, use the following syntax where you want the macro to run within the parameter file.

Syntax

[target =] macro_name (val[, ...])

[target =] macro_name (val | {val, val, ...}[, ...])

Table 8-13 Syntax Elements for Calling a Macro

Argument	Description
`target =`	Optional. Specifies the target to which the results of the macro are assigned or mapped. For example, `target` can be used to specify a target column in a `COLMAP` statement. In the following call to the `#make_date` macro, the column `DATECOL1` is the target and will be mapped to the macro results. DATECOL1 = #make_date (YR1, MO1, DAY1) Without a target, the syntax to call `#make_date` is: #make_date (YR1, MO1, DAY1)
`macro_name`	The name of the macro that is being called, for example: `#make_date`.
`(` `val[, ...]`)	The parameter input values. This component is required whether or not the macro defines parameters. If the macro defines parameters, specify a comma-separated list of input values, in the order that corresponds to the parameter definitions in the `MACRO` parameter, and enclose the list within parentheses. If the macro does not define parameters, specify the open and close parentheses with nothing between them (). For more information about this syntax, see the following: Calling a Macro that Contains Parameters. Calling a Macro without Input Parameters.
`(` `val` `\| {val,` `val, ...} )[, ...]`	The parameter input values. This component is required whether or not the macro defines parameters. If the macro defines parameters, specify a comma-separated list of input values, in the order that corresponds to the parameter definitions in the `MACRO` parameter, and enclose the list within parentheses. To pass multiple values to one parameter, separate them with commas and enclose the list within curly brackets. If the macro does not define parameters, specify the open and close parentheses with nothing between them (). For more information about this syntax, see the following: Calling a Macro that Contains Parameters. Calling a Macro without Input Parameters.