I am not exactly sure how to go about doing this and was hoping someone could help. I have numerous datasets that I want to compare, but the problem is that they have different column names. Is there a way in a data step to rename part of a coloumn if it begins with a certain letter or set of letters?
So if the coloum looked like this Base_period
Could I tell SAS to look for the letters Base and once found to rename to Curr, so it would now read Curr_period
Hi,
You can use this code to rename your variables.
data have;
input base_id base_age base_height;
cards;
1 20 6.0
2 25 5.9
;
run;
proc sql noprint ;
select catx('=',name,cats('curr_',scan(name,-1,'_'))) into : base separated by ' '
from dictionary.columns
where libname='WORK' and memname='HAVE' and name like 'base~_%' escape '~';
quit;
%put &base ;
proc datasets library=work nolist;
modify have;
rename &base ;
quit;
proc print; run;
curr_
Obs curr_id curr_age height
1 1 20 6.0
2 2 25 5.9
Linlin
Does the WITH statement help you at all in proc compare? Then you can avoid renaming to the same name?
data class2;
set sashelp.class;
drop height age;
if sex='F' then height2=height-1;
else height2=height;
if sex='M' then age2=age/2; else age2=age;
run;
proc compare base=sashelp.class compare=class2;
var age height;
with age2 height2;
run;
The issue is that in the data sets I am looking at there are a number of combination Base could be. That's why I want to replace Base with Curr. I wouldn't want to try and list out all 100 of so columns that I am trying to compare, just rename what I can.
Here is my current code:
proc compare brief
base=data.Set1
compare=data.Set2
method=percent criterion=2
out=data.test1;
run;
Hi,
You can use this code to rename your variables.
data have;
input base_id base_age base_height;
cards;
1 20 6.0
2 25 5.9
;
run;
proc sql noprint ;
select catx('=',name,cats('curr_',scan(name,-1,'_'))) into : base separated by ' '
from dictionary.columns
where libname='WORK' and memname='HAVE' and name like 'base~_%' escape '~';
quit;
%put &base ;
proc datasets library=work nolist;
modify have;
rename &base ;
quit;
proc print; run;
curr_
Obs curr_id curr_age height
1 1 20 6.0
2 2 25 5.9
Linlin
Thanks I will try working with this code
OK I think I almost have it, however when I run the program I am getting an error that &base is not defined. Here is my updated program:
Hi,
Libname and memname must be capital letters. please change memname='cp_???' to 'CP_???'.
That's it.. thank you so much!
One more follow up question. I am running into the problem when my field is named : base_pct_cnt when I run the code I end up with curr_base_cnt. How would I alter my code to account for 3 or 4 _ seperators?
How about it:
data have; input base_id base_age base_pct_cnt ; cards; 1 20 6.0 2 25 5.9 ; run; proc sql noprint ; select catx('=',name,cats('curr',substr(name,findc(name,'_')))) into : base separated by ' ' from dictionary.columns where libname='WORK' and memname='HAVE' and name like 'base~_%' escape '~'; quit; %put &base ; proc datasets library=work nolist; modify have; rename &base ; quit;
Ksharp
Big help, thank you so much
Are you ready for the spotlight? We're accepting content ideas for SAS Innovate 2025 to be held May 6-9 in Orlando, FL. The call is open until September 16. Read more here about why you should contribute and what is in it for you!
Learn the difference between classical and Bayesian statistical approaches and see a few PROC examples to perform Bayesian analysis in this video.
Find more tutorials on the SAS Users YouTube channel.
Select SAS Training centers are offering in-person courses. View upcoming courses for: