Ben, Try this. data a; set libname.a(rename=var1=var2); keep var2 var3; run; You can usually pack quite a bit into one data step. Trial and error and lots of log reading is how I learned. Perhaps someone would be so kind as to generalize some SAS data step principles. In any case, you might wish to pick up a copy of "SAS Applications Programming" by Frank DiIorio; its treatment of data step functionality is pretty good. Mike Murff SLC, Utah

>>> "Ben Powell" <ben.powell@CLA.CO.UK> 09/25/03 07:39AM >>> I'm not clear on what can be done in any single datastep and would appreciate any pointers.

Say for example I want to copy a dataset to my work lib, rename a variable and keep that and one other variable. Because in the past I have found that sometimes a step won't action unless there is a run command after it I would break this job into 3 seperate data steps, which is quite repetative. Is there a rule of thumb for when a new datastep is needed and how many steps can be included in a datastep?

e.g.

data a; set lib.a;run; data a (rename=(var1=var2)); set a;run; data a; set a; keep var2 var3; run;

This could be done with proc sql as

proc sql; create table a as select var1 as var2, var3 from lib.a; quit;

or without the lib:

proc sql; create table temp as select var1 as var2, var3 from a; create table a as select * from temp; drop table temp; quit;

Is there a tidier way to do this as a datastep?

Any help much appreciated.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This message may contain confidential information, and is intended only for the use of the individual(s) to whom it is addressed.

==============================================================================