Hi:
As Scott suggests, if all you need is an output dataset, you may want to use different techniques. If you want to stick with a PROC REPORT technique, however, then your choice is to use the RENAME= option on the OUT= specification, as shown in the code below.
PROC REPORT assigns absolute column numbers and only absolute column numbers to the variables it creates from ACROSS variable values -- so, you have to control the names if you do not want the absolute column numbers.
cynthia
[pre]
proc report data=sashelp.shoes nowd
out=work.shoeout(rename=(_c2_=Asia _c3_=Canada _c4_=Pacific));
where region in ('Asia', 'Canada', 'Pacific');
column product region,sales;
define product / group;
define region / across;
define sales/sum;
run;
ods listing;
proc print data=shoeout;
run;
[/pre]