Recoding blank responses in a string of similar variables - help needed

[Bluekeys49]

I have 30 survey variables, named AB_1, AB_2, AB,_3,...,AB_30.  Most of these variables contain a survey response, either answer choice A, B, or C.  In some cases, the responses are blank.  How do I change all blank responses to a code of 5?  I know there has to be as shorter way rather than me coding out

if AB_1 = ' ' then AB_1 = '5';

if AB_2 = ' ' then AB_2 = '5';

if AB_3 = ' ' then AB_3 = '5';

.

.

if AB_30 = ' ' then AB_30 = '5';

Thanks for any help!

[PaigeMiller]

This is a job for an ARRAY.

data want;
    set have;
    array ar ar_1-ar_30;
    do i=1 to dim(ar);
        if ar(i)=' ' then ar(i)='5';
    end;
    drop i;
run;

Although, I do feel the need to ask — why do you need to do this? What can you do with a '5' that you can't do with a ' '?

[Bluekeys49]

Thank you very much.  It worked.  Not sure if I will keep blanks or recode to another value, so I just used 5 as an example.