topic Can I rename a variable in a SAS data set without using data step, in SAS Programming

Can I rename a variable in a SAS data set without using data step,

Steve1964 — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 09:34:42 GMT

Can I rename a variable in a SAS data set without input/output actions in data step, since I don't change the data stored in the set actually?

Re: Can I rename a variable in a SAS data set without using data step,

SaraBoltman1 — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 09:44:08 GMT

Yes, you could use proc sql instead:

proc sql; create table TEST as select

old_name as new name,

other_stuff,

more_other_stuff

from TEST;

quit;

Or proc datasets.

Re: Can I rename a variable in a SAS data set without using data step,

Ksharp — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 10:51:44 GMT

data have;
 set sashelp.class;
run;
proc datasets library=work nolist nodetails;
modify have;
rename name=xxxxxx;
quit;

Re: Can I rename a variable in a SAS data set without using data step,

PaigeMiller — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 17:11:16 GMT

@SaraBoltman1 wrote:

Yes, you could use proc sql instead:

proc sql; create table TEST as select

old_name as new name,

other_stuff,

more_other_stuff

from TEST;

quit;

Doesn't this require the processing of every observation in the data step?

Or proc datasets.

I'm 100% sure this does not require processing of every observation in the data step. It doesn't even have to process one observation.

Re: Can I rename a variable in a SAS data set without using data step,

andreas_lds — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 18:56:59 GMT

@Steve1964 No, you cant. As suggested by @Ksharp, uwing proc datasets is the most efficient way to solve the issue.