Is there any way to shorten the multiple arrays processing in a datastep?

[Phil_NZ]

Hi all,

I generate a code below with a couple of arrays, is there any way to shorten the code ?

data filter_each_country;
	set concatenate_;

	array delwords1 {18} $ 15 _temporary_ ('PN' 'PNA' 'PNB' 'PNC' 'PND' 'PNE' 'PNF'
		'PNG' 'RCSA' 'RCTB' 'PNDEAD' 'PNADEAD' 'PNBDEAD' 'PNCDEAD' 'PNDDEAD' 'PNEDEAD' 'PNFDEAD' 'PNGDEAD');

	do i= 1 to dim(delwords1);
		if GEOGN ='BRAZIL' and findw(ENAME,delwords1[i],'','eir') >0 then
			delete;
	end;

	array delwords2 {3} $ 15 _temporary_ ('PFCL' 'PRIVILEGIADAS' 'PRVLG');

	do i= 1 to dim(delwords2);
		if GEOGN ='COLOMBIA' and findw(ENAME,delwords2[i],'','eir') >0 then
			delete;
	end;

	array delwords3 {2} $ 15 _temporary_ ('PR' 'PB');

	do i= 1 to dim(delwords3);
		if GEOGN ='GREECE' and findw(ENAME,delwords3[i],'','eir') >0 then
			delete;
	end;

	array delwords4 {4} $ 15 _temporary_ ('FB' 'FBDEAD' 'RTS' 'RIGHTS');

	do i= 1 to dim(delwords4);
		if GEOGN ='INDONESIA' and findw(ENAME,delwords4[i],'','eir') >0 then
			delete;
	end;
/*Around 20 arrays*/
run;

Warm regards and thanks.

[ChrisNZ · Accepted solution]

You don't need arrays at all.

  length DELW $15;
  do DELW='PN', 'PNA', 'PNB', 'PNC', 'PND', 'PNE', 'PNF',' PNG' 'RCSA' 'RCTB' 'PNDEAD';
    if GEOGN ='BRAZIL' and findw(ENAME,DELW,'eit') then delete;
  end;

[Phil_NZ]

Thank you @ChrisNZ ,

In this way, I can set up one length statement for the whole data step by using 

length delwords1-delwords20 $15;

rather than list out all the length of each array.

Warm regards.

[ChrisNZ]

You only need one DELWORD.