New SQL Data Source with hyphens in variable names ie LETTER-REF-NUM

[Elliott]

Hi, 

I have a new sql server table data source that I need to query but several of the variables have hyphens in the variable names.

I am using a SAS pass through query to access the SQL Server database/view.

How do I get SAS to accept the non standard names?  I plan on renaming to change the hyphen to an underscore but right now I cannot even read them in.

Any assistance will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Elliott

[SASKiwi · Accepted solution]

If you use this option SAS will automatically change the column names from hyphens to underscores when reading these tables:

options validvarname = V7;

If you need to refer to the original names in code then do this 'LETTER-REF-NUM'n

[Elliott]

I have tried options validvarname = V7; and options validvarname = any; neither work, still erroring with not valid SAS name.

[Patrick]

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@Elliott wrote:

I have tried options validvarname = V7; and options validvarname = any; neither work, still erroring with not valid SAS name.

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This should work. Please provide the code and log where you still encounter errors.

Options That Affect SAS/ACCESS Naming Behavior

[Reeza]

If you're using SQL passthru rename them when you pull them to valid SAS names.

Ie for Oracle

Select "First Name" as first_name,
.....
from customers;
quit;

[Elliott]

I was able to read in the data using "LETTER-REF-NUM"n

Thanks All for your help.

Elliott