topic Re: Plz explain how %scan is working in below program. in New SAS User

Plz explain how %scan is working in below program.

POOJA_J — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 01:52:46 GMT

I supposed the answer to be Buenos Aires.

But I get Buenos Aires, Argentina as correct ans.

Plz explain how the this works.

Re: Plz explain how %scan is working in below program.

Patrick — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 02:09:28 GMT

Please always share code as text and not as screenshot.

%let location=%str(Buenos Aires, Argentina);
%let city=%scan(&location, 1, %str(,));
%put &=city;

The documentation tells you that %scan() allows for FOUR parameters.

The last comma in your code is not interpreted as the delimiter for the charlist but as separator for the next parameter modifier. This means that you define the value for charlist blank meaning there isn't any.

To get what you want quote the last comma so it gets used as value for charlist.

%let location=%str(Buenos Aires, Argentina);
%let city=%scan(&location, 1, %str(,));
%put &=city;

Re: Plz explain how %scan is working in below program.

POOJA_J — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 02:28:41 GMT

Thanks for explaining. I have further question.
While using Scan function when we don't mention the delimiter, it considers all delimiters. The %scan won't behave the same? I mean suppose I don't mention the delimiter in %scan should it give ans as Buenos?

Re: Plz explain how %scan is working in below program.

Patrick — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 02:35:52 GMT

If you don't specify explicit characters as delimiters then the default list will get used. This applies both for scan() and %scan() and is fully documented.

Re: Plz explain how %scan is working in below program.

Tom — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 02:36:01 GMT

But you did include it.

Just try it without the extra commas to get the default delimiters.

1    %let location=%str(Buenos Aires, Argentina);
2    %put city=%scan(&location, 1, %str(,));
city=Buenos Aires
3    %put city=%scan(&location, 1);
city=Buenos
4    %put city=%scan(&location, 1,);
city=Buenos Aires, Argentina
5    %put city=%scan(&location, 1,,);
city=Buenos Aires, Argentina