Rename var in file1 to names in file2

* (Q) I have 2 data files with the same variables, in the same order but variable names are different. 
*  How can I automatically rename variables of file 1 to the names contained in file 2?

* (A) Posted to SPSSX-L list on 2003/09/05 by Raynald Levesque.


DATA LIST LIST /var1 var2 var3.
BEGIN DATA
1 2 3 
END DATA.
SAVE OUTFILE='c:\\temp\\old names.sav'.

DATA LIST LIST /x y z.
BEGIN DATA
1 2 3 
END DATA.
SAVE OUTFILE='c:\\temp\\new names.sav'.

******* Start job *********.

*///////////////////.
DEFINE !vname(old=!TOKENS(1) /new=!TOKENS(1))
GET FILE=!new.
N OF CASES 1.
FLIP.
COMPUTE nb=$CASENUM.
SAVE OUTFILE='c:\\temp\\new names2.sav' /RENAME=(case_lbl=newnames).

GET FILE=!old.
N OF CASES 1.
FLIP.
RENAME VARIABLES (case_lbl=oldnames).
COMPUTE nb=$CASENUM.
MATCH FILES FILE=* 
	/FILE='c:\\temp\\new names2.sav'.
WRITE OUTFILE='c:\\temp\\rename syntax.sps'
	/"RENAME VARIABLES ("newnames"="oldnames").".
EXECUTE.

GET FILE=!new.
INCLUDE 'c:\\temp\\rename syntax.sps'.
!ENDDEFINE.
*///////////////////.

SET MPRINT=yes.
!vname old='c:\\temp\\old names.sav' 
	new='c:\\temp\\new names.sav'.
SET MPRINT=no.