topic Re: extract numbers from variable with character and numeric features in SAS Programming

extract numbers from variable with character and numeric features

michokwu — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 16:46:58 GMT

Hello Experts,

I have a variable that includes both characters and numbers and does not follow any specific coding standard as it has been obtained from multiple sources. I would just like to collect the numbers. I can't use substr because the codes are different. Is there a way I can do this?

Thank you

have	want
BIOL10128DCWC	10128
ANT102	102
PSY125	125
SOC101	101
SPAN2330	2330
HIST1500	1500
BCS-205	205
BCS-132	132

Re: extract numbers from variable with character and numeric features

ghosh — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 16:54:57 GMT

want=compress(have, '', 'A');

Re: extract numbers from variable with character and numeric features

smantha — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 17:12:39 GMT

data _new;
informat have $32.;
input have $ var2;
want=compress(compress(have,' +/*-%','A'));
cards;
BIOL10128DCWc	10128
ANT102	102
PSY125	125
SOC101	101
SPAN2330	2330
HIST1500	1500
BCS-205	205
BCS-132	132
;;;
run;

Re: extract numbers from variable with character and numeric features

michokwu — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 18:04:22 GMT

Thanks! This works but it includes special characters. How do I get only the numbers?

Re: extract numbers from variable with character and numeric features

ghosh — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 18:25:24 GMT

Did not not see my response, that is what 'A' modifier does.
want=compress(have, '', 'A');
It says, replace alpha with nothing

Re: extract numbers from variable with character and numeric features

michokwu — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 21:07:03 GMT

Thank you! Some of observations still include special characters.

Re: extract numbers from variable with character and numeric features

Astounding — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 00:17:09 GMT

Try it this way:

want = compress(have, , 'kd');

As the third parameter, kd = keep digits

Re: extract numbers from variable with character and numeric features

michokwu — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 16:56:33 GMT

Thanks you