topic Re: concatenate values from data set row into one string (variable number of columns) in SAS Programming

concatenate values from data set row into one string (variable number of columns)

tom12122 — Tue, 08 May 2012 10:27:27 GMT

I have data set X that can have variable number of columns named c1, c2, c3 etc cn.

I need to concatenate them in one string. I need to have code that works regardless what the number of those columns is.

Is there a way to concatenate with some c: wildcard or similat to that?

Re: concatenate values from data set row into one string (variable number of columns)

Linlin — Tue, 08 May 2012 10:39:12 GMT

Tom,

how about:

data have;

input id (c1-c5)($);

cards;

1 a b c d e

2 d r b t t

;

data want;

length newvar $ 50;

set have;

newvar=catt(of c:);

proc print;run;

Obs newvar id c1 c2 c3 c4 c5

1 abcde 1 a b c d e

2 drbtt 2 d r b t t

Linlin

Re: concatenate values from data set row into one string (variable number of columns)

tom12122 — Tue, 08 May 2012 12:46:49 GMT

Thanks. But is there a possibility to add some separator or space between values?

Re: concatenate values from data set row into one string (variable number of columns)

Linlin — Tue, 08 May 2012 12:53:01 GMT

yes.

data have;
input id (c1-c5)($);
cards;
1 a b c d e
2 d r b t t
;
data want;
length newvar $ 50;
set have;
newvar=catx('+',of c:);
run;
proc print;run;

Obs newvar id c1 c2 c3 c4 c5

1 a+b+c+d+e 1 a b c d e
2 d+r+b+t+t 2 d r b t t