proc sql - Creating lables

[riya275]

i want to create labels for a dataset  using proc sql.

i used the code

proc sql; 
select PRODUCT_ID label="Line number" 
from a6.SMB;
quit;

but in the result the column name product_id is changed to line number.

In the original smb data-set the label has not been modified .

Why is it not working ?

[Reeza]

You didn't create a table, you only displayed results and they default to the Labels in presentation. 

If you want a data set, add a CREATE TABLE statement and then you can check the the variable name and label are different. If you'd like to apply a label to an already created data step and cannot back up to do so in another data step or proc sql, you can use PROC DATASETS to modify the library.

[ballardw]

By table do you mean a "report table" or "a newly created dataset for further use" or "an existing dataset"?

Your code created a report table in the results. It did not create a data set or modify an existing one.

Proc Datasets is the preferred way to modify existing data sets.

proc datasets library = a6;
   modify SMB;
     label Product_id = "Line Number";
quit;

There are options to suppress some of the information you'll get when running the procedure such as NODETAILS, NOLIST and/or NOPRINT on the procedure statement.

[novinosrin]

Are you sure? My test has yielded the expected results

proc sql;
create table want as
select sex label="gender"
from sashelp.class;
quit;

proc contents;
run;

Proc contents -->SAS Output

Alphabetic List of Variables and Attributes# Variable Type Len Label1

Sex

Char

1

gender

[ballardw · Accepted solution]

@novinosrin The OP's code did not create a table so there wasn't a table to assign a permanent label to the variable. It assigned a label to the variable in the output to the results window for a select.

proc sql;

   select sex label='Gender Label'

   from sashelp.class;

quit;

Won't change the label in sashelp.class which may be the OP intent. May, that's why I asked for clarification of intent.