topic Re: labeling multiple vars with the same prefix in SAS Programming

labeling multiple vars with the same prefix

K_S — Thu, 17 Sep 2020 14:36:20 GMT

How do I label in a practical way a bunch of vars that have the same prefix and need the same label.

Structure of database:

id col1 col2 col3 col4 col5...…...col72

I want all col vars to be called "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious";

Is there a very to do this very easily?

Re: labeling multiple vars with the same prefix

PaigeMiller — Thu, 17 Sep 2020 14:46:26 GMT

A macro could do this. But, what is the value of having 72 variables having the same label? Why put in the effort, what do you gain?

Re: labeling multiple vars with the same prefix

K_S — Thu, 17 Sep 2020 14:47:19 GMT

any other way?

I am not too good with macros.

Re: labeling multiple vars with the same prefix

PaigeMiller — Thu, 17 Sep 2020 14:54:11 GMT

@K_S wrote:

any other way?

I am not too good with macros.

Maybe there's a method using PROC TRANSPOSE, but I will leave that to others. The only other way I know of is to type in the labels for all 72 variables.

Re: labeling multiple vars with the same prefix

FreelanceReinh — Thu, 17 Sep 2020 19:26:41 GMT

Hello @K_S,

Use the ATTRIB statement in PROC DATASETS:

proc datasets lib=your_libref nolist;
modify your_dataset;
attrib col: label='your label';
quit;