Problem when trying to declare an array

[genemroz]

Here's some simple code that exemplifies an issue I'm having:

data;
array grid (3,3) row1-row3 col1-col3;
run;

Here's the error message I receive:

1 OPTIONS NONOTES NOSTIMER NOSOURCE NOSYNTAXCHECK;

72

73 data;

74 array grid (3,3) row1-row3 col1-col3;

ERROR: Too few variables defined for the dimension(s) specified for the array grid.

75 run;

What can possibly be wrong?

Thanks,

Gene

[Reeza · Accepted solution]

The specification is (Dimension1, Dimesnion2) with the total number of values being Dimension1 * Dimension 2.  

So for 3x3 you have 9 values, not 6 but you've only indicated 6 names. 

Here's two examples of code that does work:

data one;
	array _grid (2, 3) row1 - row3 col1-col3;

	do i=1 to 2;

		do j=1 to 3;
			_grid(i, j)=i*j;
		end;
	end;
run;

data two;
	array _grid (3, 2) row1 - row3 col1-col3;

	do i=1 to 3;

		do j=1 to 2;
			_grid(i, j)=i*j;
		end;
	end;
run;

---

@genemroz wrote:

Here's some simple code that exemplifies an issue I'm having:

data;
array grid (3,3) row1-row3 col1-col3;
run;

Here's the error message I receive:

1 OPTIONS NONOTES NOSTIMER NOSOURCE NOSYNTAXCHECK;

72

73 data;

74 array grid (3,3) row1-row3 col1-col3;

ERROR: Too few variables defined for the dimension(s) specified for the array grid.

75 run;

What can possibly be wrong?

Thanks,

Gene

---

[genemroz]

Hmm, OK.  I mistakenly thought the names were for rows and columns. Now I realize that they are the names of the elements of the array.  Thanks for straightening me out.

Gene

[Reeza]

An array in SAS is just shortcut reference to variables. There isn't an object created anywhere and it doesn't really "exist", except as a method of simplifying logic for the programmer. Occasionally, I've found a need for a multi-dimensional array but those times have been few and far between to be honest, they don't have a ton of value in SAS.