pass variable value to array

Question

Data set have has some columns with prefix Dex. But I don't know how many columns exactly with that prefix.

I want to create an array with values equal to those columns.

data want;
set have;
array Dex[100];
for i = 1 to 100;
[assign values]
end;
run;

Is there a way to do this without knowing those columns' names?

Your question is unclear. Arrays in SAS are variable references so they will contain the values of the variable already. Are you trying to re-assign the variable values, change them, or do something else? — Reeza
– Reeza, Commented May 12, 2015 at 14:42

Shenglin Chen · Accepted Answer · 2015-05-12 13:14:16Z

2

Yes, you could define your array such as:

array vars Dex:;
do i=1 to dim(vars);
[assign values]
end;
run;

answered May 12, 2015 at 13:14

Shenglin Chen

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3 Comments

user667489 Over a year ago

N.B. this will fail if your dataset contains any character variables whose names also begin with DEX. NEOmen's answer could be adapted to avoid this.

Shenglin Chen Over a year ago

@user667489. All variables with prefix Dex are based on the same type, either numeric or char, so it could be defined as an array. Even Omen's answer was also based on this assumption.

in_user Over a year ago

I could just add where type=char and it will work, but not sure if OP is looking for that!!

in_user · Accepted Answer · 2015-05-12 14:15:34Z

0

Use dictionary.columns to find out the number of columns which has prefix - dex

/Sample dataset/

 data have;
    dex_random1=1;
    dex_1=2;
    dex_3=4;
    dex_dex_random=2;
  run;

    proc sql;
    select count(*) into: Number_of_vars from dictionary.columns where 
    upcase(libname)="WORK" and upcase(memname)="HAVE" and upcase(name) like "DEX%";
    select name into: All_vars separated by " " from dictionary.columns where 
    upcase(libname)="WORK" and upcase(memname)="HAVE" and upcase(name) like "DEX%";
    quit;

    data want(drop=i);
    set have;
    array dex[&Number_of_vars.] &All_vars.  ;
    do i=1 to &Number_of_vars.;
    dex[i]=1;
    end;
    run;

edited May 12, 2015 at 14:15

answered May 12, 2015 at 13:47

in_user

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2 Comments

DWal Over a year ago

This creates variables dex1, dex2, dex3, ... if those variables didn't exist already. I think OP probably wants existing dex% variables in the array.

in_user Over a year ago

@DWal ...above updated code takes care of this as well

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