VNAMEX

VNAMEX

Validates the value of the specified argument as a variable name

Category: Variable Information

Syntax
Arguments
Comparisons
Examples
See Also

Syntax

VNAMEX (expression)

Arguments

expression

specifies any SAS character expression.

Restriction:

The value of the specified expression cannot denote an array reference.

Comparisons

VNAME returns the name of the specified variable. VNAMEX, however, evaluates the argument to determine a variable name. If the name is a known variable name, the function returns that name. Otherwise, the function returns a blank.
VNAME does not accept an expression as an argument. VNAMEX accepts expressions, but the value of the specified variable cannot denote an array reference.
Related functions return the value of other variable attributes, such as the variable label, informat, and format, among others. For a list, see the "Variable Information" functions in Functions and CALL Routines by Category.

Examples

SAS Statements Results

array x(3) x1-x3; array vx(3) $6 vx1 vx2 vx3 ('x1' 'x2' 'x3'); y=vnamex(vx(1)); z=vnamex('x'||'1'); put y=; put z=;

y=x1 z=x1

SAS Statements	Results
array x(3) x1-x3; array vx(3) $6 vx1 vx2 vx3 ('x1' 'x2' 'x3'); y=vnamex(vx(1)); z=vnamex('x'\|\|'1'); put y=; put z=;	y=x1 z=x1

See Also

Functions:
"Variable Information" functions in Functions and CALL Routines by Category

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