topic Re: How to convert name from first/last format to first initial and last name in SAS Programming

How to convert name from first/last format to first initial and last name

LL5 — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 14:42:37 GMT

Hi, I have names in my table that have the first and last name format. I need to convert the format to first initial follow by dot then last name.

For example, Sandy Chint would be S.Chint, Kathy Kumarxy would be K.Kumarxy, and Thomas P Magliu would be T.Magliu

These names have first and last name format, as well as middle name/initial between first and last name. How to do this in prxchange or is there a better way to do it? Below is some examples. Thanks.

data ReversedNames;
   input name $32.;
   datalines;
Sandy Chint
Kathy Kumarxy
Bobby Smith
Jason McDonald
Annie Avor
Thomas P Magliu
Joan Smith Korcos
;
run;

Re: How to convert name from first/last format to first initial and last name

PeterClemmensen — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 14:49:16 GMT

How about

data ReversedNames;
   input name $32.;
   datalines;
Sandy Chint
Kathy Kumarxy
Bobby Smith
Jason McDonald
Annie Avor
Thomas P Magliu
Joan Smith Korcos
;
run;

data want;
   set ReversedNames;
   newname = cat(char(name, 1), '. ', scan(name, -1));
run;

Re: How to convert name from first/last format to first initial and last name

Kurt_Bremser — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 14:50:41 GMT

I prefer the common string functions for this rather simple task:

data want;
set reversednames;
name = catx(".",substr(name,1,1),scan(name,-1));
run;

@LL5 wrote:

Hi, I have names in my table that have the first and last name format. I need to convert the format to first initial follow by dot then last name.

For example, Sandy Chint would be S.Chint, Kathy Kumarxy would be K.Kumarxy, and Thomas P Magliu would be T.Magliu

These names have first and last name format, as well as middle name/initial between first and last name. How to do this in prxchange or is there a better way to do it? Below is some examples. Thanks.
data ReversedNames;
   input name $32.;
   datalines;
Sandy Chint
Kathy Kumarxy
Bobby Smith
Jason McDonald
Annie Avor
Thomas P Magliu
Joan Smith Korcos
;
run;