mf_getuniquelibref.sas

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/**
  @file
  @brief Returns an unused libref
  @details Use as follows:
 
      libname mclib0 (work);
      libname mclib1 (work);
      libname mclib2 (work);
 
      %let libref=%mf_getuniquelibref();
      %put &=libref;
 
  which returns:
 
> mclib3
 
  A blank value is returned if no usable libname is determined.
 
  @param [in] prefix= (mclib) first part of the returned libref. As librefs can
    be as long as 8 characters, a maximum length of 7 characters is premitted
    for this prefix.
 
  @version 9.2
  @author Allan Bowe
**/
 
%macro mf_getuniquelibref(prefix=mc);
  %local x maxtries;
 
  %if ( %length(&prefix) gt 7 ) %then %do;
    %put %str(ERR)OR: The prefix parameter cannot exceed 7 characters.;
    0
    %return;
  %end;
  %else %if (%sysfunc(NVALID(&prefix,v7))=0) %then %do;
    %put %str(ERR)OR: Invalid prefix (&prefix);
    0
    %return;
  %end;
 
  /* Set maxtries equal to '10 to the power of [# unused characters] - 1' */
  %let maxtries=%eval(10**(8-%length(&prefix))-1);
 
  %do x = 0 %to &maxtries;
    %if %sysfunc(libref(&prefix&x)) ne 0 %then %do;
      &prefix&x
      %return;
    %end;
    %let x = %eval(&x + 1);
  %end;
 
  %put %str(ERR)OR: No usable libref in range &prefix.0-&maxtries;
  %put %str(ERR)OR- Try reducing the prefix or deleting some libraries!;
  0
%mend mf_getuniquelibref;