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* (Q): I have variables whose names end with "_1", 
	I need new variables whose names end by "_2".

* (A): This is a generalisation by rlevesque@videotron.ca of the following 
	solution posted by Rolf Kjoeller */.

*********************************************************
***** Original solution to the specific problem *****
*********************************************************

data list list /v_1 var_1 dhjl_1 dfgrjt_1 .
begin data
1 2 3 4
8 7 6 5
end data .

define !copy(!positional !cmdend) .
!do !var !in (!1) .
/* rename variables  
/* (!var=!concat(!substr(!var,1,!index(!var,"_1")),"2") ).
compute !concat(!substr(!var,1,!index(!var,"_1")),"2") = !var .
!doend .
execute .
!enddefine .

!copy v_1 var_1 dhjl_1 dfgrjt_1 .


*********************************************************
*** Generalisation by rlevesque@videotron.ca ****
*** http://pages.infinit.net/rlevesqu/index.htm
*********************************************************

DATA LIST LIST /v_1 var_1 dhjl_1 dfgrjt_1.
BEGIN DATA
1 2 3 4
8 7 6 5
END DATA..

SET MPRINT=no /PRINTBACK=listing.
*///////////////////////////////.
DEFINE !varname (func=!TOKENS(1)
	/old=!ENCLOSE('(',')')
	/new=!ENCLOSE('(',')')
	/vlist=!CMDEND)

!DO !var !IN (!vlist)

/*calculate length of old string plus 1 */
!LET !lenold=!LENGTH(!CONCAT(!BLANK(!LENGTH(!old)),!BLANK(1)))

/* n is the number of characters remaining unchanged */
!LET !n=!LENGTH(!SUBSTR(!BLANK(!LENGTH(!var)),!lenold))

/* Copy or rename variables */
!IF (!UPCASE(!func)=RENAME) !THEN
RENAME VARIABLES (!var=!CONCAT(!SUBSTR(!var,1,!n),!new)).
!ELSE
COMPUTE !CONCAT(!SUBSTR(!var,1,!n),!new) = !var.
!IFEND

!DOEND
EXECUTE.
!ENDDEFINE.
*///////////////////////////////.

SET MPRINT=yes.
* want to rename the original variables (replacing "_1" by "_2").
!varname func=rename old=(_1) new=(_2) vlist=v_1 var_1 dhjl_1 dfgrjt_1.
LIST.

* want to rename the original variables (replacing "_2" by "x").
!varname func=rename old=(_2) new=(x) vlist=v_2 var_2 dhjl_2 dfgrjt_2.
LIST.

* want to copy the original variables (replacing "x" by "yz").
!varname func=copy old=(x) new=(yz) vlist=vx varx dhjlx dfgrjtx.
LIST.