@Mark_Bailey provided a good solution
Here is another way to do solve the problem
Names Default To Here( 1 );
dt = Current Data Table();
charNames = dt << get column names( character );
// convert char columns to numeric
For( i = 1, i <= N Items( charNames ), i++,
Column( dt, charNames[i] ) << data type( numeric )
);
// Create the jsl required to sum all of the specified columns
theExpr = "dt << new column(\!"number of complications\!", formula(sum(" ||
Substr( Char( charnames ), 2, Length( Char( charNames ) ) - 2 ) || "));";
// Execute the line of code created
Eval( Parse() );
// Delete the formula leaving the static values
Column( dt, "number of complications" ) << delete formula;
// Convert the binary columns back to character
For( i = 1, i <= N Items( charNames ), i++,
Column( dt, charNames[i] ) << data type( character )
);
Jim