Position of sequential variables in an array created using a colon

[whitknee48]

I have several variables ordered in SAS such as this: var_10_1, var_10_2, var_1_1, var_1_2, var_2_1, var_2_2.

If I use an array statement such as the following, what position would these variables be in?

array var (1:10) var_:;

I'm thinking they are character sorted so var_10_1 is before var_1_1, but the order by which they are in the dataset (which is the same in this circumstance) could also be an option. If the latter is the case I can use a retain to re-order them, but if the former is the case I'll have to come up with a different solution to put var_1 before var_10.

Thanks for you help!

[Reeza]

Use VNAME to test it. 

Given your indexes perhasps you want a two dimensional array making it easier to know which you’re referencing?

[Astounding · Accepted solution]

The order in the array is the order in which the variables were first created.  You can check that by running a PROC CONTENTS.  One of the pieces of output is the order of the variables.  You can even shorten the output to refer to just the variables of interest:

proc contents data=have (keep=var_: );

run;

And as was mentioned, if you are processing the variables within a DATA step, using a DO loop and an array, the VNAME function will tell you the variable name for the current array element.