Is the Answer Key correct? VALIDVARNAME=ANY

[ericliuzh1]

Hi,

My answer is E to the question below but SAS answer key is C.

With the system option VALIDVARNAME=ANY, which of the following variable names is valid?

a. 4BirthDate

b. $Cost

c. _Items_

d. Tax-Rate

e. All of the above

According to the definition, I believe that a, b, and d are all valid names. Can someone let me know why E is not a correct answer?

Thanks.

Eric

[Kurt_Bremser]

The other names would only be valid if they were enclosed in '...'n and therefore name literals.

[ericliuzh1]

Thanks, Kurt. It makes sense now!

[Rick_SAS]

I can see why you are confused. I suggest you re-read the section of your study guide that deals with VALIDVARNAME and n-literals to see if it makes a distinction between those two concepts. You are correct that all of the variables are valid if you use them as n-literals such as

data _null_;

'4BirthDate'n = 1;
'$Cost'n = 2;
_Items_ = 3;
'Tax-Rate'n = 4;

run;

However, C is the only variable name that you can use without embedding the name into an n-literal, as shown.

[ericliuzh1]

Thanks for the examples! I got it now!