topic Re: Converting several special characters in the same value in SAS Programming

Converting several special characters in the same value

Helle — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 13:08:58 GMT

Hi,

I have a dataset containing the variable "memname". The values of "memname" may contain one or more Danish characters like Æ, Ø and Å. I need to convert these to AE, OE and AA respectively. The new converted values are stored in the variable "memname_dk". Examples of values with Danish characters include "ÅRSOPGØRELSE" and "ANSØGT_VILKÅR".

I have tried to use different loops to make sure that all Danish characters are converted but didn't succeed yet so in the end I decided to simply run three almost identical data steps (see below). However, I am sure there must be a more simple way to do this. Can anybody help me please?

Here's the current solution:
data aa;
set aa;
memname_dk=memname;
if find(memname_dk,'Æ') > 0 then memname_dk=tranwrd(memname,'Æ','AE');
run;
data aa;
set aa
if find(memname_dk,'Ø') > 0 then memname_dk=tranwrd(memname,'Ø','OE');
run;
data aa;
set aa
if find(memname_dk,'Å') > 0 then memname_dk=tranwrd(memname,'Å','AA');
run;

Thanks,

Helle

Re: Converting several special characters in the same value

Peter_C — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 14:02:40 GMT

did you try embedding the tranwrd functions?
data dealt_with ;
set original ;
memname_dk=
tranwrd(
tranwrd(
tranwrd(memname
,'Æ','AE')
,'Ø','OE')
,'Å','AA');
run;

Re: Converting several special characters in the same value

Robert_Bardos — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 14:09:07 GMT

First, your design is slightly flawed, since it does not handle strings that contain a combination of these danish characters.

Second, there's no need to spread the function call over three data steps.
Third, there's no actual need for an "if" test.

Just chain the tranword function calls/statements like in e.g.
[pre]
data aa ;
set aa ;
memname_dk = tranwrd(memname,'Æ','AE');
memname_dk = tranwrd(memname_dk,'Ø','OE');
memname_dk = tranwrd(memname_dk,'Å','AA');
run ;
[/pre]

Re: Converting several special characters in the same value

Helle — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 06:59:53 GMT

Hi,

Thanks a lot for your suggestions - they both give me the desired results 🙂

Regards,

Helle