topic Re: Using Substr function in SAS Programming

Using Substr function

desireatem — Mon, 30 Sep 2019 15:50:48 GMT

I am trying to create the variable year as below from _Name_. Below is the code. Any help, comes out incorrect.

data longMLS2;
set longMLS2 ;
year=input(substr(_NAME_, 4), 3.);
drop _name_;
run;

obs	caseid	_Name_	BMI	Year
1	1	BMI_Y2	.	2
2	1	BMI_Y3	.	3
3	1	BMI_Y4	.	3
4	1	BMI_Y5	.
5	1	BMI_Y6	.
6	1	BMI_Y7	.
7	1	BMI_Y8	.
8	1	BMI_Y9	.
9	1	BMI_Y10	19.3579
10	1	BMI_Y11	23.1639
11	1	BMI_Y12	23.7976
12	1	BMI_Y13	24.7655

Re: Using Substr function

PaigeMiller — Mon, 30 Sep 2019 15:53:10 GMT

substr(_NAME_, 4) applied to the first row of your data set produces the result _Y2. Do you see what is wrong now?

Re: Using Substr function

Reeza — Mon, 30 Sep 2019 15:58:52 GMT

Use SCAN() since you have a clear delimiter.

Code = scan(_name_, 2, "_");

Re: Using Substr function

desireatem — Mon, 30 Sep 2019 15:59:07 GMT

Does not work for me.

Re: Using Substr function

desireatem — Mon, 30 Sep 2019 16:01:40 GMT

Thank you. It is now Y2, Y3.., how do I drop the Y so that I have 2, 3, ...

Re: Using Substr function

Reeza — Mon, 30 Sep 2019 16:05:25 GMT

Why not add Y to your SCAN() as a delimiter and you'll get just the number.

You may need to change 2 to 3 but it's worth trying first.

Use INPUT() to convert it to a number, which will likely be your next question, so you can sort correctly.


Code = input(scan(_name_, 2, "_Y"), 8.);

@desireatem wrote:

Thank you. It is now Y2, Y3.., how do I drop the Y so that I have 2, 3, ...

Re: Using Substr function

novinosrin — Mon, 30 Sep 2019 16:04:20 GMT

HI @Reeza You taught me anydigit exactly 19 months ago.


data have;
input obs	caseid	_Name_	$ BMI;*	Year;
cards;
1	1	BMI_Y2	.	2
2	1	BMI_Y3	.	3
3	1	BMI_Y4	.	3
4	1	BMI_Y5	.	 
5	1	BMI_Y6	.	 
6	1	BMI_Y7	.	 
7	1	BMI_Y8	.	 
8	1	BMI_Y9	.	 
9	1	BMI_Y10	19.3579	 
10	1	BMI_Y11	23.1639	 
11	1	BMI_Y12	23.7976	 
12	1	BMI_Y13	24.7655	 
;

data want;
set have;
year=substr(_name_, anydigit(_Name_));
run;

Re: Using Substr function

novinosrin — Mon, 30 Sep 2019 16:06:11 GMT

Or Compress with 'kd' modifier


data have;
input obs	caseid	_Name_	$ BMI;*	Year;
cards;
1	1	BMI_Y2	.	2
2	1	BMI_Y3	.	3
3	1	BMI_Y4	.	3
4	1	BMI_Y5	.	 
5	1	BMI_Y6	.	 
6	1	BMI_Y7	.	 
7	1	BMI_Y8	.	 
8	1	BMI_Y9	.	 
9	1	BMI_Y10	19.3579	 
10	1	BMI_Y11	23.1639	 
11	1	BMI_Y12	23.7976	 
12	1	BMI_Y13	24.7655	 
;

data want;
set have;
year=compress(_name_,,'kd');
run;

Re: Using Substr function

desireatem — Mon, 30 Sep 2019 16:06:32 GMT

Thank you very much for your help!

Re: Using Substr function

Reeza — Mon, 30 Sep 2019 16:06:55 GMT

Yup, there's many ways to slice this one.
Another viable option is COMPRESS() which will keep only digits.

compress(_name_, , 'kd');

Re: Using Substr function

novinosrin — Mon, 30 Sep 2019 16:11:00 GMT

Reeza's special in my notes :

1. Proc freq sparse

2. Any...... group of functions with precisions

3. Not to trust anydate informats unless you know for real and sure

4. Remerge in SQL if system is fast enough and convenient

5. Informat statement better than a colon format modifier for reading ease

and the list goes on to 143 points so far. I am definitely not sharing all. It's my selfish effort to take notes. lol But kudos for offering lol 🙂