Rename variables

[bumed]

May problem is that I need to change the variable names in an excel sheet so that all the names have _W1 on them. I found a macro that can do this put I'm unsure of how to use it. I used proc contents to pull the names and symput to make then into a macro variable but I cant seem to get it to change the names in data Q. I know Im missing a step. Thanks for the help.

PROC IMPORT OUT= WORK.Q
DATAFILE= "C:\Documents and Settings\boraste\My Documents\SB
_LS_111407.xls"
DBMS=EXCEL REPLACE;
SHEET="SB_Q2";
GETNAMES=YES;
MIXED=NO;
SCANTEXT=YES;
USEDATE=YES;
SCANTIME=YES;
RUN;
proc contents data = Q out=Qcon noprint;

data Qcon1;
set Qcon (keep = Label);
OPTIONS MPRINT;
data _null_;
set Qcon1;
call symput("vlabel",Label);

%macro rename;
%local varlist i var;
%let name= &vlabel;
%let i=0;
%do %while(%scan(&varlist,&i+1,%str( )) ne %str( ));
%let i = %eval(&i+1);
%let var = %scan(&varlist,&i,%str( ));
&var = W1&var
%end;
%mend rename;

%rename
run;
proc print data = Q;

 

[klaz2002]

You are going to have to do this in a macro and use the RENAME statement.

Here is how:

proc contents
   data = Q
   out  = Qcon noprint;
run;

%macro ChangeNames;
data _null_;
  set Qcon end=last;
  call symput('varnm'||trim(left(put(_n_,8.))), trim(name) );
  if last then
    call symput('lim',trim(left(put(_n_,8.))) );
run;

data Q;
  set Q_newnames;
  RENAME 
  %do i=1 %to &lim;
    &&varnm&i = &&varnm&i.._w1
  %end;
  ;
run;
%mend ChangeNames;
%ChangeNames;

Try this and see if it works for you. I still am not sure why you would want to change variable names enmass, but to each their own way.


Klaz

 

[bumed]

Wicked cool. The reason I need to this is that I'm working with a longitudinal research database and there is the same variables for many years or waves (W1 W2 ...). So in need to change the names to put it into SPSS.
Thanx