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Note:  See SN-008395 to learn other ways to reorder variables.

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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 a;
  input x a j z$ q $ ;
datalines;
1 2 3 qwe asd
;

/* Method 1: Using PROC CONTENTS to obtain alphabetical order for variable names      */

/* Use PROC CONTENTS to generate an output data set, keeping only the variable names, */
/* which are output in alphabetical order.                                            */

proc contents data=a out=newa(keep=name);
run;

/* Create macro variables for each variable name, and a count of the number of variables */

data _null_;
  set newa end=last;
  i+1;
  call symput('var'||trim(left(put(i,8.))),trim(name));
  if last then call symput('total',trim(left(put(i,8.))));
run;

/* Use a macro DO loop to generate the names of the variables on a RETAIN statement.  */
/* Placing the variable names on a RETAIN statement prior to the SET statement        */
/* ensures the variables are placed in the PDV in that order.                         */
/*                                                                                    */
/* If you do not need to permanently reorder the variables, just print them in        */
/* alphabetical order, you can use the macro DO LOOP on a VAR statement in PROC PRINT.*/

%macro test;
  data final;
    retain %do j=1 %to &total;
             &&var&j
	   %end;;
    set a;
  run;

  proc print;
  run;
%mend test;

/* Invoke the macro */

%test




/* Method 2: Use SQL dictionary tables to create alphabetical list of variable names */

/* Use same starting data set created above, WORK.A.  Note the values of MEMNAME and */
/* LIBNAME need to be in upper case.                                                 */

proc sql noprint;                               
   select distinct name                         
   into : varlist separated by ' '              
   from dictionary.columns                      
   where libname='WORK' and memname='A';     
   quit;                                        

/* Write macro variable value to the log to see the results */                                              
%put &varlist;  

/* If you want to permanently reorder the variables in the data set to be in          */
/* alphabetical order, you can call the macro variable &varlist on a RETAIN statement */
/* prior to the SET statement when you create the new data set.  If you only want to  */
/* print them in alphabetical order, you can use the macro variable &varlist on a VAR */
/* statement in PROC PRINT.                                                           */

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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    a    j     q     x     z

 1     2    3    asd    1    qwe

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