SAS | How to specify a list of Variables?

Suppose you have a list of variables. You don’t want to type the name of each variable every time to define them within the function or array. You are looking for a shortcut to accomplish this task.

Create a dataset with a list of variables

data dummy; 
input a1 a3 a4 a2 a6$ bs$ a5; 
cards; 
2 1 3 5 aa xy 2 
2 5 4 1 ab xz 4 
2 7 3 9 ac wx 3 
; 
run; 

Output:

How to specify a list of variables

A single dash (-) refers to specify consecutive numbered variables. For example: a1-a4;

A double dash (–) refers to specify variables based on the order of the variables as they appear/entered in the file, regardless of the name of the variables.

data dummy1 (drop= a1--a5); 
set dummy; 
sum = sum(of a1-a4); 
sum1 = sum(of a1--a4); 
run; 

Output:

In the above program, a1-a4 includes a1, a2, a3 and a4, whereas a1--a4 includes a1, a3 and a4 only as they appear the same way in file.

How to specify all NUMERIC variables

data dummy1 (drop= a1--a5); 
set dummy; 
sum = sum(of _numeric_); 
run; 

Output:

How to use double dash in array

The below-defined program will subtract one from values in variables a1, a3 and a4.

data dummy1; 
set dummy; 
array vars a1--a4; 
do over vars; 
vars = vars - 1; 
end; 
run; 

Output:

How to use numeric variables in array

The below-defined program will subtract one from values in numeric variables.

data dummy1; 
set dummy; 
array vars _numeric_; 
do over vars; 
vars = vars - 1; 
end; 
run; 

Output:

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