topic Re: How can I find the position of a character in a text. in SAS Enterprise Guide

How can I find the position of a character in a text.

cmajorros — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 11:59:36 GMT

Hi All

Is it possible to find the position of a character in a text like these examples

Text	Need_Position_of_4	Result
123412344444	3	9
1112222223400120044444	2	18

For the first example I need 3th 4 and the second one I need the second 4.

Re: How can I find the position of a character in a text.

RW9 — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 12:14:09 GMT

What is logic, i.e. why is it to find the first, or the second? Post some test data in the form of a datastep, and required output, with an explanation of what you require. If you want search functions (and you can find these out from the help documentation or google them): find, findw, findc, index etc.

Re: How can I find the position of a character in a text.

MadhuKorni — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 12:17:03 GMT

data Have;

input Text : $ 20.;

cards;

123412344444

1112222223400120044444

;

data Want;

set Have;

if _n_=1 then do;

Need_Position_of_4 = 3;

Result = findc(Text,'4',findc(Text,'4',index(Text,'4')+1)+1);

end;

else do;

Need_Position_of_4 = 2;

Result = findc(Text,'4',index(Text,'4')+1);

end;

run;

proc print ;run;

Re: How can I find the position of a character in a text.

data_null__ — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 12:37:57 GMT

Using FINDC you can search "Need Position of 4" number of times as follows.

data find;
   infile cards expandtabs; 
   input s :$30. o r;
   p=0; 
   do _n_ = 1 to o until(p eq 0);
      p = findc(s,'4',p+1);
      end; 
   drop startpos;
   cards; 
123412344444   3  9
1112222223400120044444  2  18
1112222223400120044444  10 .  
;;;;
   run; 
proc print; 
   run;

Re: How can I find the position of a character in a text.

cmajorros — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 07:21:27 GMT

Thank you so much for your answer. it is very helpful.