write shorthand code in sas

[elopomorph]

I want to tell SAS to read columns 1 to 500.  I could tell it to read COL1 COL2 COL3 ... COL500 but that would take forever.  

Here is a more detailed example

VAR  COL1 COL2 COL3 COL4 COL5 COL6 COL7 ............................................  COL500

Is there a shorter way to tell SAS to read the columns?

[RW9]

Yes several:

data want;

  set have;

  keep=col1-col500;

  /* Or */

  keep=col:;

  /* Or */

  array col{500};

  do i=1 to 500;

    ...;

  end;

run;

[ballardw · Accepted solution]

And if you are reading an external file you can use a range list on the input statement:

input var1 col1-col500;

Or

input var1 col001 - col500;

[elopomorph]

very helpful. Thanks!  

[AnnaBrown]

Hi elopomorph,

I'm glad you found some useful info! If one of the replies was the exact solution to your problem, can you "Accept it as a solution"? Or if one was particularly helpful, feel free to "Like" it. This will help other community members who may run into the same issue know what worked.

Thanks!

Anna