topic Re: Refer To Column One Variable Without Knowing Variable Name in SAS Programming

Refer To Column One Variable Without Knowing Variable Name

NKormanik — Fri, 24 Nov 2017 01:29:22 GMT

I would like to sort a dataset, by the first column.

proc sort data=have;
by Col#1;
run;

Suppose I don't have the actual name of the Col#1 variable.

(Actually, I do, of course, but it varies among datasets. And I'm seeking a generic approach.)

Can this be done?

Thanks!

Nicholas Kormanik

Re: Refer To Column One Variable Without Knowing Variable Name

Reeza — Fri, 24 Nov 2017 02:13:51 GMT

Not via PROC SORT but PROC SQL allows it.

Re: Refer To Column One Variable Without Knowing Variable Name

stat_sas — Fri, 24 Nov 2017 03:26:08 GMT

Hi,

A couple of steps before proc sort may produce the desired output.

proc contents data=sashelp.cars order=varnum out=vars(keep=name varnum) ;
run;

proc sql;
select name into :sort_var from vars
where varnum=1;
quit;

proc sort data=cars;
by &sort_var;
run;

Re: Refer To Column One Variable Without Knowing Variable Name

PGStats — Fri, 24 Nov 2017 04:57:20 GMT

Use SQL, as @Reeza suggested, or sort by everything (it will sort on the first variable first)

proc sql; 
create table cars as select * from sashelp.cars 
order by 1; 
quit;

/* Or */

proc sort data=sashelp.cars out=cars; by _all_; run;

Re: Refer To Column One Variable Without Knowing Variable Name

NKormanik — Fri, 24 Nov 2017 08:35:16 GMT

Thank you all for your help.

Since these datasets only contain two columns, it is easiest to sort by everything. Straightforward and easy. Wonderful. Glad it can be done this way.