topic Re: referencing dataset columns with spaces in SAS Programming

referencing dataset columns with spaces

deleted_user — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 19:17:25 GMT

I have an excel file I imported into a SAS dataset. The problem is the excel file column names had spaces. Now the sas dataset columns have the spaces in them too. How do I reference these columns? Also how can I rename them? I tried using quotes in the example below, but got errors trying to run this code.

current dataset:
First Name Last Name
.... ....
.... ....

data test;
keep "First Name";
run;

the above code produces an error. it seems SAS doesn't like the quotes around the column name.

Thanks in advance!

Re: referencing dataset columns with spaces

deleted_user — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 19:34:06 GMT

SAS "name constants"
They have an N suffix in the way that date constants have a D suffix.

Try:[pre]data test ;
keep "First Name"n ;
run ;[/pre]
Also, have a look at system option VALIDVARNAME and SAS/Access to RDBMS documentation

good luck
PeterC

Re: referencing dataset columns with spaces

deleted_user — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 21:09:20 GMT

When you import the excel files into SAS, most invalid (in the sense of SAS, like space, $, -, etc ) characters were replaced with _ (under score). Your First Name in excel will become First_Name in SAS. You may be viewing the data file with Column Label. Change to Column Name in data viewer.
You could retain the same variable names with

options VALIDVARNAME=ANY ; (only in BASE and STAT)