topic Re: Rename data set name in SAS Programming

Rename data set name

Ronein — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 08:23:05 GMT

Hello

Let's say that I want to rename data set WORK.tbl_A to WORK.tbl_B

Data tbl_A;
Input ID Name$ Weight;
cards;
2 A 2
4 B 3
7 D 5
;
run;
proc datasets library=work;
change tbl_A=tbl_B;
run;
proc sql;
select *
from tbl_B
;
quit;

Let's say that I want to rename data set R_R.tbl_A into WORK.tbl_A .

What is the way to do it?

When say "Rename data set" does it mean that there is a new data set name in same library?

I know that in this case I can run following code but I ask if there is a better more quick way

Data WORK.tbl_A;
set R_R.tbl_A;
Run;

Re: Rename data set name

Ksharp — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 09:33:39 GMT

proc copy in=R_R out=WORK;
select tbl_A;
run;

Re: Rename data set name

Amir — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 12:29:02 GMT

Hi,

Normally, in my experience, when a file (of any description) is renamed, its location remains the same. If you want the library to change from R_R to work then that means the location has changed and so it sounds like you want to move the data set and not rename it.

Do you want to move the data set from library R_R to work or do you want to copy the data set from library R_R to work so that the original is still in library R_R?

So, move, or copy, or something else?

Thanks & kind regards,

Amir.

Re: Rename data set name

Patrick — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 12:47:40 GMT

options dlcreatedir;
libname rr "%sysfunc(pathname(work))\test";
data rr.tbl_a(index=(name/unique));
  set sashelp.class;
run;

proc datasets library=work nolist;
  copy
    in=rr
    out=work
    index=yes
    constraint=yes
    move
    ;
  select tbl_a;
  run;
  contents data=work.tbl_a;
  run;
quit;

Re: Rename data set name

Kurt_Bremser — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 17:43:24 GMT

IF you work on UNIX and

IF your libraries are on the same physical device(*)

then you can use the operating system's mv command, which only creates a new directory entry and removes the old one, without touching the file itself.

*) this can be any kind of virtual disk, it only needs to be mounted as one device in the system's filesystem.

In all other cases, you have to create a new file and delete the old one, moving the whole mass of data.

Re: Rename data set name

SASKiwi — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 20:39:15 GMT

With all due respect, you need to describe correctly what you are doing first before looking for better solutions. As other posters have noted, you want to move or copy a dataset between libraries, not rename them (although you could do both). If you get your description right, then you'll have a much better chance of finding the better solution you want, by for example searching in SAS documentation.