This sample starts off with a macro variable that contains a list of the following variables:

Age Height Name Sex Weight

The objective is to retrieve each word from this list, add an underscore to the beginning of the name, and then build the following RENAME= option:

data new; 
   set sashelp.class(rename=(Age = _Age Height = _Height Name = _Name 
   Sex = _Sex Weight = _Weight)); 
run; 

First, we use the COUNTW function to determine the number of words in the list. This function did not exist prior to SAS^® 9. See SAS Note 26152, "Retrieve the number of words in a macro variable", for other techniques for determining the number of words in a macro variable list.

Once the number of words are determined, a macro %DO loop is used to loop through the list using %QSCAN to retrieve each word. This word is then used to build the syntax of variable = _variable.

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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.

%let varlist = Age Height Name Sex Weight;                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                        
%macro rename;                                                                                                                          
   %let word_cnt=%sysfunc(countw(&varlist)); 
   %do i = 1 %to &word_cnt;                                                                                                               
      %let temp=%qscan(%bquote(&varlist),&i);                                                                                               
      &temp = _&temp                                                                                                                      
   %end;                                                                                                                                  
%mend rename;                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                        
data new;                                                                                                                               
   set sashelp.class(rename=(%unquote(%rename)));                                                                                         
run;                                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                        
proc print;                                                                                                                             
run;     

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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    _Name      _Sex    _Age    _Height    _Weight

  1    Alfred      M       14       69.0      112.5
  2    Alice       F       13       56.5       84.0
  3    Barbara     F       13       65.3       98.0
  4    Carol       F       14       62.8      102.5
  5    Henry       M       14       63.5      102.5
  6    James       M       12       57.3       83.0
  7    Jane        F       12       59.8       84.5
  8    Janet       F       15       62.5      112.5
  9    Jeffrey     M       13       62.5       84.0
 10    John        M       12       59.0       99.5
 11    Joyce       F       11       51.3       50.5
 12    Judy        F       14       64.3       90.0
 13    Louise      F       12       56.3       77.0
 14    Mary        F       15       66.5      112.0
 15    Philip      M       16       72.0      150.0
 16    Robert      M       12       64.8      128.0
 17    Ronald      M       15       67.0      133.0
 18    Thomas      M       11       57.5       85.0
 19    William     M       15       66.5      112.0

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