XML file - How to rename some variable based on the information found into the map file

[alepage]

Hello,

I am using a proc http procedure to download an xml file from a specific web site.

I am able to import this xml file into a SAS dataset.  However, the issue I am facing is that some variable name are longer than 32 characters so I am loosing precious information.  The complete name can be found in the map file more precisely in the path .  Is there a way to put map information into a SAS dataset , work on it the redo the map file for future use.

Here's an example

        </COLUMN>
                
        <COLUMN name="QID2_TEXT_8cb70e63_1kek94049fwn8">
                        
            <PATH syntax="XPath">/Responses/Response/QID2_TEXT_8cb70e63_1kek94049fwnTopicHierarchy1</PATH>
                        
            <TYPE>character</TYPE>
                        
            <DATATYPE>string</DATATYPE>
                        
            <LENGTH>32</LENGTH>
                    
        </COLUMN>
            
    </TABLE>
    
</SXLEMAP>

So, if you look at COLUMN name=QID2_TEXT_8cb70e63_1kek94049fwn8 but the real value of that column is found in

PATH syntax=

PATH syntax="XPath">/Responses/Response/QID2_TEXT_8cb70e63_1kek94049fwnTopicHierarchy1</PATH>

so if you eliminate the 8cb70e63_1kek94049fwn string it should gives 

QID2_TEXT_TopicHierarchy1 which is the good column name.

Is there a way to do that in SAS

If I rename the column name do I need to eliminate the 8cb70e63_1kek94049fwn string from the Path syntax.

Please provide an example.

[Tom]

To answer your last question first.

NO. 

Do NOT change the PATH setting that is what tells it where to LOOK in the XML.

Just change the NAME= attribute to whatever name you want.

TopicHierarchy looks like a better name to me.

Or perhaps just TOPIC.

The shorter the better, otherwise it is extremely painful to type programs. 

You can always put the longer text into the LABEL of the variable.  For some strange reason they call the label DESCRIPTION in the XMLMAP file.

<COLUMN name="Topic">
  <PATH syntax="XPath">/Responses/Response/QID2_TEXT_8cb70e63_1kek94049fwnTopicHierarchy1</PATH>
  <TYPE>character</TYPE>
  <DATATYPE>string</DATATYPE>
  <LENGTH>32</LENGTH>
  <DESCRIPTION>QID2_TEXT_8cb70e63_1kek94049fwnTopicHierarchy1</DESCRIPTION>
</COLUMN>

[alepage]

we change the variable name manually but is there a way to do that with a SAS code

[Tom · Accepted solution]

It is not hard to read/write the XMLMAP file as a simple text file.

filename old 'xml.map';
filename new 'new_xml.map';
data _null_;
  infile old;
  file new;
  input;
  if left(_infile_)= '<COLUMN name="QID2_TEXT_8cb70e63_1kek94049fwn8">' then
    put '<COLUMN name="Topic">'
  ;
  else put _infile_;
run;

If you want to get fancy the map file is itself an XML file.  So you could use the XMLV2 engine to read it into a dataset (or set of datasets).  Then manipulate the data in the way you want and write out a new map file.