topic Re: How to keep the last character of a text string and use it for a new variable? in SAS Programming

How to keep the last character of a text string and use it for a new variable?

rjnc13 — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 17:53:23 GMT

Hi,

Im trying to keep the last letter of a text string that has various lengths in order to create a new variable.

The example is below

Datalines

abcdefg

abcdef

abbbbbnn

dddeeegg

Results

So all i need is just the last character.

Thanks!

Ryan

Re: How to keep the last character of a text string and use it for a new variable?

stat_sas — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 18:00:06 GMT

data want;
set have;
result=substr(text,length(strip(text))-1,1);
run;

Re: How to keep the last character of a text string and use it for a new variable?

Astounding — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 18:09:22 GMT

Always nice to have choices:

data want;

set have;

length result $ 1;

result = left(reverse(text));

run;

Re: How to keep the last character of a text string and use it for a new variable?

Orsini — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 18:51:06 GMT

Gosh you folks are fast...

From Cody's SAS Functions by Example:

data have;

infile datalines4;

input charvar1 $;

list;

LastChar = substr(charvar1,length(charvar1),1);

datalines4;

abcdefg

abcdef

abbbbbnn

dddeeegg

;;;;

run;

Re: How to keep the last character of a text string and use it for a new variable?

Astounding — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 20:34:55 GMT

A couple of hidden "features" here ...

Note that LENGTH never returns 0. If the incoming string is blank, it returns 1 so the second argument to SUBSTR will still be valid.

Also note that the LENGTH statement should be added. When SUBSTR creates a new variable, the length will not be $1, but will be the length of the original string. You can easily see that by running a PROC CONTENTS.

Re: How to keep the last character of a text string and use it for a new variable?

Haikuo — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 03:13:35 GMT

Another way:

data have;

infile datalines4;

input charvar1 $ 8.;

lastchar=prxchange('s/(.+)([a-zA-Z])$/$2/o', -1, trim(charvar1));

datalines4;

abcdefg

abcdef

abbbbbnn

dddeeegg

;;;;

run;

Re: How to keep the last character of a text string and use it for a new variable?

SASKiwi — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 03:51:22 GMT

Let me count the ways...the number on the end of the REVERS format must be at least as long as the input variable

data _null_;

a = 'ABCD ';

attrib LastChar length= $1;

LastChar = put(a, $REVERS100.);

put _all_;

run;

Re: How to keep the last character of a text string and use it for a new variable?

rjnc13 — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 10:35:39 GMT

Thanks for the speedy response!

Re: How to keep the last character of a text string and use it for a new variable?

rjnc13 — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 10:36:38 GMT

Thanks for your quick response, very much appreciated