proc transpose: adjusting the length of the _name_ column

[MarkusWeick]

I am using proc transpose to change the table from wide to long. But in the column "old-column" the old some variable names are truncated. What can I do, to get them in the original length?

proc transpose 	data=have
            name =old_column
			out=want
			by column_to_keep;
run;

Thanks,

Markus

[ballardw]

Can you provide an example data set that exhibits this behavior?

Note that your code as posted will not run as the semicolon between the Proc statement and the BY statement is missing.

---

@MarkusWeick wrote:

I am using proc transpose to change the table from wide to long. But in the column "old-column" the old some variable names are truncated. What can I do, to get them in the original length?

proc transpose 	data=have
            name =old_column
			out=want
			by column_to_keep;
run;

Thanks,

Markus

---

[MarkusWeick]

Hi @ballardw, Thanks, and sorry for my badly prepared question. Next time I will do an example set before asking. (I found that the truncating was done later in proc append with forve option).

Thanks again,

Markus

[ballardw]

---

@MarkusWeick wrote:

Hi @ballardw, Thanks, and sorry for my badly prepared question. Next time I will do an example set before asking. (I found that the truncating was done later in proc append with forve option).

Thanks again,

Markus

---

I suspected it might be something along those lines. Proc Transpose is pretty mature and would be surprised to see that as the cause of the _name_ truncation.

[PaulCanals]

The Proc Transpose procedure takes care of the naming lengths and works very well.

A real problem is using the force option (in combination with nowarn option) in the Proc Append procedure. 

[data_null__ · Accepted solution]

It appears the default is $8 or the length of the longest name greater than $8

proc transpose data=sashelp.class(obs=0 keep=sex) out=want;
   var _all_;
   run;
proc contents varnum;
   run;
proc transpose data=sashelp.class(obs=0 rename=(name=name5678910)) out=want2;
   var _all_;
   run;
proc contents varnum;
   run;