try this:

data test; datea1=1; datea2=2; datea3=3; x=4; output; run;

proc contents data=test noprint out=t_list; run;

proc sql feedback noprint;

select distinct name into :name_list separated by ' ' from t_list where name like 'datea%';

quit;

%put &name_list;

Dave Hapeman |-(:-) (515) 245-4765 hapemande@Wellmark.com

-----Original Message----- From: Cacialli, Doug [mailto:Doug_Cacialli@URMC.ROCHESTER.EDU] Sent: Wednesday, March 06, 2002 1:59 PM To: SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU Subject: Happy array fun times

Y'all,

I'm trying to write an array that would include all variables that have the prefix "datea" (i.e., datea1, datea2, datea3, etc.). The problem is that new datea vars will continue to be appended to the end of the data set, and while I can specify a range of vars now, it will continue to change. Does anyone have any ideas how I can account for this? TIA!

Doug out.

---------------------------------------------------------------------- Doug Cacialli - Information Analyst / Laboratory Coordinator Sleep Research Laboratory Department of Psychiatry URMC - Strong Memorial Hospital 300 Crittenden Blvd. Rochester, New York 14642 Phone - (585) 275-2900 Fax - (585) 273-3682 ----------------------------------------------------------------------