topic Re: Keep only first four characters in SAS Programming

Keep only first four characters

jmoore168 — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 16:12:35 GMT

Hi,

I have a simple problem I want to solve. I have a column where the output is, ex. 1303/0000/1. But I only need '1303' that I'll eventually convert into a currency value later.

Current output

Desired output

STATUS_CD	SALES_NPV
S04	1302
S04	1485
S04	0967

Re: Keep only first four characters

jklaverstijn — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 16:17:21 GMT

For this they have invented the SUBSTR function:

SALES_NPV = SUBSTR(SALES_NPV, 1, 4);

This function is very basic. I would recommend you have a look at the other SAS functions as well.

Regards,

- Jan.

Re: Keep only first four characters

Reeza — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 16:52:59 GMT

Since you have the / as a delimiter you can also use the SCAN() function.

Re: Keep only first four characters

Astounding — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 17:35:24 GMT

I can name that tune with 0 functions:

data want;

length sales_npv $ 4;

set have;

run;

There's only room to save the first four characters, once the length has been defined.

Re: Keep only first four characters

jmoore168 — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 17:29:48 GMT

Thanks everyone! I was almost too embarassed to ask.