Not having to type a string of variables

[lady8506]

I have this dataset with over 50 variables all starting with the same prefix (cares_sf_1, cares_sf_2, cares_sf_3, cares_sf_4 ,and so on up to 50). I am trying to do create an array that contains all these variables without having to type each one of them out. Is there a way to do this? I thought 'cares_sf_1-cares_sf_7" might work, but apparently it doesn't appear to be the right syntax and I can't find a solution through google searches.

Here is what I've currently done that isn't working:

DATA CARES; SET RedcapDB;
ARRAY acares_sf_{7} cares_sf_1-cares_sf_7;
DO i = 1 to 7;
acares_sf_[i] = cares_sf_[i] - 1;
END;
RUN;

Error message:

7120  DATA CARES; SET RedcapDB;
7121  ARRAY acares_sf_{7} cares_sf_1-cares_sf_7;
7122  DO i = 1 to 7;
7123  acares_sf_[i] = cares_sf_[i] - 1;
ERROR: Undeclared array referenced: cares_sf_.
ERROR: Variable cares_sf_ has not been declared as an array.
7124  END;
7125  RUN;

Any help is appreciated. Thank you!

[ballardw]

You need to declare two arrays acares and cares, OR you meant acares but typed cares.

Your list approach should work just fine if the array statement is correct.

[lady8506]

Hey Ballard, I just figured out what I was doing wrong. Thanks for replying.

[Reeza]

You're looking for something called variable lists. 

Another option is the colon short cut, which includes everything with that prefix:

array myArray(*) prefix: ;

[Astounding]

Assuming you fixed the array name reference, you will also need to change the DO loop:  do i=2 to 7;

There is no 0th element to copy into the 1st element.