Can I rename a variable in a SAS data set without using data step,

[Steve1964]

Can I rename a variable in a SAS data set without input/output actions in data step, since I don't change the data stored in the set actually?

[SaraBoltman1]

Yes, you could use proc sql instead:

proc sql; create table TEST as select

old_name as new name,

other_stuff,

more_other_stuff

from TEST;

quit;

Or proc datasets.

[PaigeMiller]

---

@SaraBoltman1 wrote:

Yes, you could use proc sql instead:

proc sql; create table TEST as select

old_name as new name,

other_stuff,

more_other_stuff

from TEST;

quit;

---

Doesn't this require the processing of every observation in the data step?

Or proc datasets.

I'm 100% sure this does not require processing of every observation in the data step. It doesn't even have to process one observation.

[Ksharp]

data have;
 set sashelp.class;
run;
proc datasets library=work nolist nodetails;
modify have;
rename name=xxxxxx;
quit;

[andreas_lds]

@Steve1964 No, you cant. As suggested by @Ksharp, uwing proc datasets is the most efficient way to solve the issue.