diff --git a/all.sas b/all.sas
index 2d7f5ce..5ab16db 100644
--- a/all.sas
+++ b/all.sas
@@ -6249,6 +6249,71 @@ alter table &libds modify &var char(&len);
 
 %mp_createconstraints(inds=&dsconst,outds=&dsconst._addd,execute=YES)
 
+%mend;
+/**
+  @file
+  @brief Used to validate variables in a dataset
+  @details Useful when sanitising inputs, to ensure that they arrive with a
+  certain pattern.
+  Usage:
+
+      data test;
+        infile datalines4 dsd;
+        input;
+        libds=_infile_;
+        %mp_validatecol(libds,LIBDS,is_libds)
+      datalines4;
+      some.libname
+      !lib.blah
+      %abort
+      definite.ok
+      not.ok!
+      nineletrs._
+      ;;;;
+      run;
+
+  @param [in] incol The column to be validated
+  @param [in] rule The rule to apply.  Current rules:
+    @li LIBDS - matches LIBREF.DATASET format
+  @param [out] outcol The variable to create, with the results of the match
+
+  <h4> SAS Macros </h4>
+  @li mf_getuniquename.sas
+
+  @version 9.3
+**/
+
+%macro mp_validatecol(incol,rule,outcol);
+
+/* tempcol is given a unique name with every invocation */
+%local tempcol;
+%let tempcol=%mf_getuniquename();
+
+%if &rule=ISNUM %then %do;
+  /*
+    credit SØREN LASSEN
+    https://sasmacro.blogspot.com/2009/06/welcome-isnum-macro.html
+  */
+  &tempcol=input(&incol,?? best32.);
+  if missing(&tempcol) then &outcol=0;
+  else &outcol=1;
+  drop &tempcol;
+%end;
+%else %if &rule=LIBDS %then %do;
+  /* match libref.dataset */
+  if _n_=1 then do;
+    retain &tempcol;
+    &tempcol=prxparse('/^[_a-z]\w{0,7}\.[_a-z]\w{0,31}$/i');
+    if missing(&tempcol) then do;
+      putlog "%str(ERR)OR: Invalid expression for LIBDS";
+      stop;
+    end;
+    drop &tempcol;
+  end;
+  if prxmatch(&tempcol, trim(&incol)) then &outcol=1;
+  else &outcol=0;
+%end;
+
 %mend;
 /**
   @file