How do I delete all dataset in a library except those that contain, say, _MEANS2, in the dataset name ? Thanks...

[Xinxin]

How do I delete all datasets in a library except those that contain, say, _MEANS2, in the dataset name ?

Thanks...

[data_null__]

If they started with _MEANS2 it would be really easy.

proc datasets library=... memtype=data;

   save _means2:;

   run;

   quit;

For contains you will need to build the SAVE list from meta data DICTIONARY.MEMBERS perhaps.  Use SQL INTO macro variable and use macro variable in SAVE statement.  Easy enough.

[Haikuo]

Thanks, Data_null_. And here is the code following his instruction:

proc sql;

select DISTINCT memname INTO :NAMES SEPARATED BY ' '

  from dictionary.columns where libname='WORK' AND memname ? '_means2'

  ;

  QUIT;

proc datasets library=WORK memtype=data;

   save &NAMES;

   run;

   quit;

Note: I have use work library as an example.

Regards,

Haikuo

[Xinxin]

Thank you, Hai.kuo, for your reply. Although I had a lot of datasets in the work library with and without "_means2" in the dataset name, this code did not select anything into Names and so, in the next step the marco could not be resolved.

[Haikuo]

Could we see your log?

[data_null__]

UPCASE

[Haikuo]

Yep! Most likely! Also make sure there is a blank in separated by ' '.

[Augusto]

ANOTHER WAY

%MACRO WANT(LIB);
PROC SQL NOPRINT;
SELECT
   COUNT(*)
  ,MEMNAME INTO : CONT,  : NAME
SEPARATED BY " "
    FROM
DICTIONARY.TABLES
    WHERE
UPCASE(LIBNAME) EQ "&LIB."
    AND

MEMNAME NOT CONTAINS '_MEANS2';
  QUIT;

   %DO %UNTIL (&CONT.);
         PROC DATASETS LIB = &LIB. MEMTYPE = DATA NOLIST;
            DELETE &NAME.;
         RUN;
    %END;

%MEND;

%WANT (WORK);

[Xinxin]

Thank you, data_null_; , Hai.kuo and Augusto for your quick and very helpful replies ! This is better than writing out the datasets in a Proc Delete and I also learnt something new. Thanks again for your help!