topic Re: rename variables in SAS Programming

rename variables

mikiduta — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 20:45:20 GMT

Hi,

I have a dataset with many variables, named as it follows:

street_density, landuse_mix, street_connectivity, deprivation

I would like to automatically rename them as

x1= street_density, x2=landuse_mix, x3=street_connectivity, x4=deprivation.

I am looking for an easy way to do this for many variables simultaneously.

Thanks!

Re: rename variables

art297 — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 20:47:59 GMT

I thought this was what you were asking in the first place. Please post the actual proc standard code that you ran.

Art, CEO, AnalystFinder.com

Re: rename variables

art297 — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 21:07:52 GMT

The reason I asked you to post the proc standard code that you ran is because you can copy the variable list it contains into a data step, then use the proc sql method I mentioned earlier this afternoon. Here is an example using sashelp.class:

PROC STANDARD DATA= sashelp.class MEAN=0 STD=1 OUT=zscoreswk;
  VAR age height weight;
run;

data need;
  input;
  _n_=1;
  do while (scan(_infile_,_n_) ne '');
    var=scan(_infile_,_n_);
    output;
    _n_+1;
  end;
  cards;
age height weight
;

proc sql noprint;
  select catt(var,'=z_',var)
    into :vars separated by ' '
      from need
  ;
quit;

data zscoreswk;
  set zscoreswk;
  rename &vars.;
run;

HTH,

Art, CEO, AnalystFinder.com

Re: rename variables

Reeza — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 21:10:27 GMT

Here's an example of renaming, using the sashelp library. I've broken it out into more steps that ideally necessary, but it helps you to understand what's happening. You can combine steps as you're comfortable with the program.

data class;
set sashelp.class;
run;

data names;
set sashelp.vcolumn;
where libname='SASHELP' and memname='CLASS';

new_name = catt("X", _n_);

keep new_name name;
run;

proc sql noprint;
select catx("=", name, new_name) into :rename_list separated by " "
from names;
quit;

proc datasets lib=work nodetails nolist;
modify class;
rename &rename_list;
run;quit;

Re: rename variables

mikiduta — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 21:12:29 GMT

Thank you both, Reeza and Art! Your responses are both very helpful! Have a nice afternoon!