Rename a variable from results output

[ANKH1]

One of the variable names from results output has a parenthesis, i.e., ID(group). How can I rename the variable? Rename does not work.

I needed to transpose from long to wide the results output but when I wanted to rename id(group) it does not work. This is what the output looks like:

Subject	estimate	standard Error
ID	23	2
ID(group)	45	3

This is the transposed result:

estimate_ID	std_ID	estimate_ID(group)	std_ID(group)
23	2	45	3

[sbxkoenk]

options validvarname=any;

data have;
input estimate_ID std_ID 'estimate_ID(group)'n 'std_ID(group)'n;
cards;
23	2	45	3
;
run;

proc datasets library=work NoList NoDetails memtype=data; 
 modify have;
  rename 'estimate_ID(group)'n = abc;
  rename 'std_ID(group)'n      = xyz; run;
QUIT;
/* end of program */

Koen

[mtnbikerjoshua · Accepted solution]

Hi @ANKH1,

To reference a variable containing a special character in SAS, you need to put the variable name in quotes followed by a letter n. Try this line of code:

rename 'estimate_ID(group)'n=new_name;

Best,

Joshua

[ANKH1]

Thanks also for explaining!

[ballardw]

Provide data prior to the Proc Transpose in the form of a working data step and the Proc Transpose code you used.

You will (and likely should) fix the data before the transpose. Since you did not provide the Transpose code I have to guess that you used and ID statement which means that the "problem" lies in the value of the Subject variable if that was used in the  ID statement. But you have some other questionable things as well, so an example data set is needed.

[andreas_lds]

In the first dataset "ID(group)" is a value, so you need a normal assignment to change the value.

data want;
  set have;
  if Subject = "ID(group)" then Subject = "id_group";
run;

EDIT: Added forgotten quotes.

[ANKH1]

Oh right! This also works!