Date:         Wed, 16 Mar 2005 10:40:54 -0500
Reply-To:     Jim Groeneveld <jim1stat@YAHOO.CO.UK>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Jim Groeneveld <jim1stat@YAHOO.CO.UK>
Subject:      Re: What is the regular expression for SAS format name?

Hi friends,

For SAS vs. 6.12 I already wrote a macro SAS_name, which checks for all
kinds of valid SAS names. It is intended for use in other macros, checking
for valid arguments. I extended the macro to correspond to SAS vs. 8
characteristics (and even vs. 9 as I say in the commment, but I don't know
anymore exactly what). The SAS vs. is recognized automatically. I think I
have to extend it more to vs. 9.x.y.z, but I would like to see a list of
(differing) characteristics for SAS names in different SAS (minor) versions.

Checks are not done via regular expressions, but using standard macro code.
If you want to have a look at it, or even use it, SAS_name is available as:
http://home.hccnet.nl/jim.groeneveld/software/SASmacro/SAS_name.zip

Regards - Jim.
--
Y. (Jim) Groeneveld, MSc., Biostatistician, Vitatron b.v., NL
Jim.Groeneveld_AT_Vitatron.com (replace _AT_ by AT sign)
http://www.vitatron.com, http://home.hccnet.nl/jim.groeneveld

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