topic Spaces in Variable Names;SAS name errors in SAS Programming

Spaces in Variable Names;SAS name errors

omega1983 — Fri, 13 Sep 2013 13:51:08 GMT

I have variables that have spaces

Example Variable Names

B GGR

F CCR

in my program I converted the variables using an assignment as follows:

data test;

set test1;

B_GGR = 'B GGR',n;F_CCR='F CCR'n;

run;

I get errors

B GGR is not a valid sas name.

F CCR is not a valid sas name.

Should not the use of the '',n resolve the issue with variables that have spaces?

Re: Spaces in Variable Names;SAS name errors

Linlin — Fri, 13 Sep 2013 14:17:05 GMT

do you want label your variables or create new variables?

data have;

input B_bb$;

cards;

;

data want;

set have;

label b_bb='B BB';

proc print data=want label;

run;

Obs B BB

1 AA

2 BB

Re: Spaces in Variable Names;SAS name errors

Reeza — Fri, 13 Sep 2013 14:39:32 GMT

If you truly have variables with spaces in the name then yes, the ''n notation should allow them to work, however SAS will sometimes convert them itself, but leaves the labels with the spaces.

You can run a proc contents on your dataset to see if that happened.

You can also try the

option validvarname=any;

to see if that helps.