Overview (DELETE VARIABLES command)

DELETE VARIABLES deletes the specified variables from the active dataset.

Basic Specification

• The basic specification is one or more variable names.

Syntax Rules

• The variables must exist in the active dataset.
• The keyword TO can be used to specify consecutive variable in the active dataset.
• This command cannot be executed when there are pending transformations. For example, DELETE VARIABLES cannot be immediately preceded by transformation commands such as COMPUTE or RECODE.
• DELETE VARIABLES cannot be used with TEMPORARY.
• You cannot use this command to delete all variables in the active dataset. If the variable list includes all variables in the active dataset, an error results and the command is not executed. Use NEW FILE to delete all variables.