VNAMEX Function

VNAMEX Function

Validates the value of the specified argument as a variable name

Category: Variable Information

Syntax

VNAMEX ( expression )

Arguments

expression

• specifies any SAS character expression.

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

Details

If the VNAMEX function returns a value to a variable that has not yet been assigned a length, by default the variable is assigned a length of 200.

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' on page 270.

Examples

SAS Statements	Results
array x(3) x1-x3; array vx(3) 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' on page 270