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Note: To delete variables when ALL values are missing, see Sample 63.

---

These sample files and code examples are provided by SAS Institute Inc. "as is" without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Recipients acknowledge and agree that SAS Institute shall not be liable for any damages whatsoever arising out of their use of this material. In addition, SAS Institute will provide no support for the materials contained herein.

/* Create sample data */

data sample;
  input x y z;
datalines;
1 2 3
4 . 6
7 . .
;

/* Use PROC MEANS to count the missing values for each variable */

proc means data=sample nmiss noprint;
  output out=new(drop=_type_ _freq_) nmiss=; 
run;

/* Capture the names of any variables where the count of missing values    */
/* is greater than zero and put those variable names into macro variables. */
/* Another macro variable is created with the total count of the variables */
/* to be deleted.                                                          */

data _null_;
  length name $35 ;

  /* Read the data set created from the PROC MEANS */
  set new;

  /* Load all the numeric variables into the array TEST using the reserved */
  /* word _NUMERIC_.  This is helpful if you do not know the names of all  */
  /* the numeric variables in your data set.                               */
  array test(*) _numeric_;
  
  /* For every variable in the array TEST, check to see if its value is     */
  /* greater than zero.  If so, increment a counter (N) and assign the      */
  /* variable name whose value is greater than zero into a new variable     */
  /* called NAME via the CALL routine VNAME.  (The VNAME function could be  */
  /* used as well.)  Use CALL SYMPUT to create a macro variable, VARn, to   */
  /* hold the value of NAME.  These macro variables will be used in the     */
  /* following macro to build the DROP statement.  Create the macro         */
  /* variable NUM using CALL SYMPUT.  NUM will hold the final number of     */
  /* numeric variables that contained a missing value.  NUM will be used    */
  /* as the upper bound of macro DO loop to build the DROP statement in the */
  /* following macro.                                                       */
  do i= 1 to dim(test);   
    if test(i) > 0 then do;
      n+1;
      call vname(test(i),name);
      call symput('var'||left(put(n,8.)),name);
    end;
    call symput('num',left(put(n,8.)));
  end;
run;

options mprint;

/* The macro do loop in the DROP= option writes the names of the */
/* variables to be dropped on the SET statement.                 */

%macro test;
  data sample2;
    set sample(drop= %do i = 1 %to #
                       &&var&i
                     %end;  
              );     
  run;
%mend test;

%test 

proc print data=sample2;
run;

---

These sample files and code examples are provided by SAS Institute Inc. "as is" without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Recipients acknowledge and agree that SAS Institute shall not be liable for any damages whatsoever arising out of their use of this material. In addition, SAS Institute will provide no support for the materials contained herein.

Obs    x

 1     1
 2     4
 3     7

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