topic Re: rename variable level in SAS Programming

rename a variable level

palolix — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 23:14:30 GMT

Dear SAS Community,

I would like to rename the variable level 'Jar' to 'Air' for the variable TRT but only at day0 and day3 (not for day7) of the variable label. The problem I am having is that SAS is renaming for day0 and day3 but ignoring day7. I want to keep the levels 'Air' and 'Jar' for day7. I know I cannot use two WHERE statements but I included the second one so you understand what I want.

I would greatly appreciate it your help!

data new;
set long;
where label in('day0', 'day3');
if TRT='Jar' then TRT='Air';
where label='day7';
if TRT='Air' then TRT='Air';
if TRT='Jar' then TRT='Jar';
run;

rename variable level

palolix — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 23:11:41 GMT

Dear SAS Community,

I would greatly appreciate it your help!

data new;
set long;
where label in('day0', 'day3');
if TRT='Jar' then TRT='Air';
where label='day7';
if TRT='Air' then TRT='Air';
if TRT='Jar' then TRT='Jar';
run;

Re: rename a variable level

Tom — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 03:20:16 GMT

You cannot have two WHERE statements in a data step. And the placement of the WHERE statement within the DATA step makes no difference.

I suspect what you want to do is include the extra conditions into your IF clauses.

But I am not sure because I do not understand the terminology you are using. You say you want to "rename a variable level", what does that mean? There is no variable named LEVEL referenced in your code.

Perhaps you mean you want to CHANGE a VALUE of a variable?

If so then perhaps you mean you want to do this:

data new;
  set long;
  if label in ('day0' 'day3') and TRT='Jar' then TRT='Air';
run;

So for observations where LABEL is something else the value of TRT never changes.

Re: rename a variable level

ballardw — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 03:32:19 GMT

ELSE.

You may want an if then/else construct. Otherwise ALL of those ifs get executed.

Also you very likely do not want a WHERE as that removes observations for values on the where statement are not true. So the "day7" would never exist in the data set

If this doesn't do what you want then you should provide and example of the input data set and the desired result.

Note: the "else if" may not be needed at all because there is no reason to change the values, but I have shown it as it seems to parallel your thinking.

data new;
   set long;
   IF  label in('day0', 'day3') and TRT='Jar' then TRT='Air';
   Else if  label='day7' then do;
      if TRT='Air' then TRT='Air';
      if TRT='Jar' then TRT='Jar';
  end;
run;

other code that would do the same thing:

data new;
   set long;
   IF  label in('day0', 'day3') and TRT='Jar' then TRT='Air';
run;

WHERE statement evaluates the values as they are brought into the data set. If the statement is not true then those obsesrvations, label='day7' (or any other value than day0 and day3) would not appear in the result at all. That where the limitation on single WHERE statement comes from.

Most condition operations based on values of variables would usually be better done with IF statements.

Re: rename variable level

Ksharp — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 07:05:03 GMT

data new;
set long;

if TRT='Jar' and label in ('day0', 'day3') then TRT='Air';

run;

Re: rename variable level

Kurt_Bremser — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 16:19:49 GMT

Please do not double-post.

Re: rename a variable level

palolix — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 16:39:44 GMT

That is what I wanted, thank you so much Tom!

Re: rename a variable level

palolix — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 16:40:13 GMT

Great, thank you very much!

Re: rename variable level

palolix — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 16:40:36 GMT

Thank you Ksharp!