Question

In SAS you can do.

data a(rename=(a=b) );
  a = 1;
run;

to rename a variable in the data step data statement (or data step header as I call it).

What s the syntax to change the label? I tried

data a(label=(a= a to b ) );
  a = 1;
run;

But it doesn t work.

Answer 1

data a;
    x=1;
    label x="label"; * original label;
run;

proc datasets lib=work nolist;
    modify a;
    label x= new label ;
run; quit;

Answer 2

I don t think manipulating label via data step options is possible. For manipulating label using data step, either one is fine:

attrib a label= a to b ;
label a= a to b ;

but I guess you already knew.