core/base/mf_existvar.sas

/**
  @file
  @brief Checks if a variable exists in a data set.
  @details Returns 0 if the variable does NOT exist, and return the position of
    the var if it does.
    Usage:

        %put %mf_existvar(work.someds, somevar)

  @param libds (positional) - 2 part dataset or view reference
  @param var (positional) - variable name
  @version 9.2
  @author Allan Bowe
**/  /** @cond */

%macro mf_existvar(libds /* 2 part dataset name */
      , var /* variable name */
)/*/STORE SOURCE*/;

  %local dsid rc;
  %let dsid=%sysfunc(open(&libds,is));

  %if &dsid=0 or %length(&var)=0 %then %do;
    %put %sysfunc(sysmsg());
      0
  %end;
  %else %do;
      %sysfunc(varnum(&dsid,&var))
      %let rc=%sysfunc(close(&dsid));
  %end;

%mend;

/** @endcond */