Dear SAS community:
I have a large dataset with several thousand variables.
I need to pick variables using specific texts in their variable names.
I use this simple code to pick them:
data two; set one;
keep mi:;
run;
this picks up the variables that starts with the name "mi", such as mi_date, mi_size, and mi_treat, but cannot pick up hx_mi, time_mi, and chronic_mi_treat. is there something simple I can use to pick out variables using "mi" in the variable names regardless of position?
thanks
Something simple? No. But the complexities are manageable. Old-style program:
proc contents data=have out=_contents_ (keep=name where=(index(upcase(name), 'MI') > 0));
run;
That gives you a list of all the variable names. Note that you can use dictionary.columns instead of PROC CONTENTS if that's something y ou are mildly familiar with.
Then get the list into a macro variable (again you have choices at this point, CALL EXECUTE being one alternative):
proc sql;
select strip(name) into : varlist separated by ' ' from _contents_;
quit;
Finally, use the macro variable:
data want;
set have (keep=&varlist);
run;
Note that you can add to the list of variables, such as:
set have (keep=id &varlist);
Finally, consider whether it would be safer (but still accurate) to search for "mi_" instead of "mi".
Something simple? No. But the complexities are manageable. Old-style program:
proc contents data=have out=_contents_ (keep=name where=(index(upcase(name), 'MI') > 0));
run;
That gives you a list of all the variable names. Note that you can use dictionary.columns instead of PROC CONTENTS if that's something y ou are mildly familiar with.
Then get the list into a macro variable (again you have choices at this point, CALL EXECUTE being one alternative):
proc sql;
select strip(name) into : varlist separated by ' ' from _contents_;
quit;
Finally, use the macro variable:
data want;
set have (keep=&varlist);
run;
Note that you can add to the list of variables, such as:
set have (keep=id &varlist);
Finally, consider whether it would be safer (but still accurate) to search for "mi_" instead of "mi".
many thanks Astounding,
fantastic, this is simple enough
thanks
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