create variables from observations

[rmlmrmlm]

Hello.

I have a dataset with only one variable and 50 observations. The variable contains names of other I want to use to create a new dataset. Of course, these names change, depending on the steps of the processing.

Example of the dataset_1:

variable_name
--------------------
brand
colour
year
maxspeed


The new dataset to create, dynamicaly and empty, must have the following variables:

Example of dataset_2:

brand colour year maxspeed
------------------------------------------------

This is some kind of transpose. I tried some transposes but it didn't work out.

Can someone help?
Thanks a lot.

[Kurt_Bremser]

You need more information in your first dataset, not just names: variable type, length, formats, ...

[rmlmrmlm]

Important: It's not possible to use the select variable into :var separated by ' ' because sometime we have so many columns that concatenated it exceeds the max lengrh of a macro variable.

[rmlmrmlm]

Yes, you are right! I didn' think about it. SAS rookie.

[rmlmrmlm]

Well ... I was checking ... In real life, the variables are all numeric.

Can I use a kind of transpose, @Kurt_Bremser?

[Reeza]

You only have one column? What would be in the variables created, missing? A full example would be helpful. 

[PGStats]

You can also use a temporary file:

filename toto temp;

data _null_;
set have;
file toto;
put variable_name "=0;";
run;

data have;
%include toto;
stop;
run;

[Astounding]

Here's a transpose approach:

data have2;

set have;

num_var = 1;

run;

proc transpose data=have2 out=want1 (drop=_name_ _label_);

var num_var;

id variable_name;

run;

data want2;

set want1;

stop;

run;

The transpose creates all the numeric variables with a value of 1.  The final DATA step removes that observation, but leaves the variable definitions in place.

[Shmuel]

You can do it in one step, assumed all variables are numeric:

data _NULL_;

    infile datalines truncover;

    input vname $;

   if _N_ = 1 then call exceute('data test;  length  ');

   if vname ne '==='       /* input data assigned to end of input */

      then call execeute('strip(vname) || ' ');

      else call excecute(' 8; delete; run;');

datalines;

brand

colour

year

maxspeed

===

; run;

run;

[Ksharp · Accepted solution]

data have;
input name : $20.;
cards;
brand
colour
year
maxspeed
;
run;
proc transpose data=have out=want;
id name;
run;

[rmlmrmlm]

For my needs, this answer is valid.
Thanks.

[gk6565]

Thanks for this useful answer.

It's working.! Kudos to you.