Is it possible to use a variable for a list for use in several WHEREs throughout a fex? If so, can somebody help me out with syntax?

Using "WHERE field IN ('value1','value2',...)" works, but if my fex needs to apply this WHERE to 4 tables, changing the values requires changing them in each WHERE line.

Using a FILEDEF with "WHERE field IN file" works also, but having to update/upload a file every time I want to change values is overkill and cumbersome.

Seems to me that it should be possible to define a variable at the top of the fex with whatever values, then just stick that variable in as many WHEREs as I need. But I can't get this to work and I'm not finding any answers in the help docs or existing forum posts.

-* =====A. This works=====
TABLE FILE CAR
SUM CNT.MODEL
BY COUNTRY
WHERE COUNTRY IN ('JAPAN','ITALY');
END
-*
TABLE FILE OTHERTBL
SUM CNT.FOO
BY COUNTRY
WHERE COUNTRY IN ('JAPAN','ITALY');
END

-* =====B. This works=====
FILEDEF CTRYLIST DISK Z:/WHATEVER/CTRYFILE.TXT
TABLE FILE CAR
SUM CNT.MODEL
BY COUNTRY
WHERE COUNTRY IN FILE CTRYLIST;
END
-*
TABLE FILE OTHERTBL
SUM CNT.FOO
BY COUNTRY
WHERE COUNTRY IN FILE CTRYLIST;
END

-* =====C. I want something like this but I can't get it to work=====
-SET &CTRYLIST=('JAPAN','ITALY');
TABLE FILE CAR
SUM CNT.MODEL
WHERE COUNTRY IN &CTRYLIST;
END
-*
TABLE FILE OTHERTBL
SUM CNT.FOO
WHERE COUNTRY IN &CTRYLIST;
END

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kerry,

When providing values to Dialogue Manager variables that contain quotes, you need to include more quotes:

-SET &ECHO=ALL;

-SET &CTRYLIST = '(''JAPAN'',''ITALY'')';

TABLE FILE CAR
SUM CNT.MODEL
WHERE COUNTRY IN &CTRYLIST;
END

TABLE FILE OTHERTBL
SUM CNT.FOO
WHERE COUNTRY IN &CTRYLIST;
END

I'm not sure what the term for this is or where it's documented. You may be able to play with QUOTEDSTRING, but my suggestion is the easiest.

-SET assigns a literal value, or a value that is computed in an arithmetic or logical expression, to a variable.

Single quotation marks around a literal value are optional unless it contains an embedded blank, comma, or equal sign, in which case you must include them.

The syntax is:

-SET &[&]name= {expression|value};

where:

&name - Is the name of a variable whose value will be set.

expression - Is a valid expression. Expressions can occupy several lines, so end the command with a semicolon.

value - Is a literal value assigned to the variable. If the literal value contains commas or embedded blanks, you must enclose the value in single quotation marks. If the value contains a single quote, place two single quotes where you want one to appear.

Thank you! I put in more quotes like you said and it works now!