topic Re: Remove Character in SAS Procedures

Remove Character

sfs — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 00:14:06 GMT

I am trying to remove characters after a space in a string variable.
i.e. Change "Johns,Robert James" to "Johns,Robert".

In excel, the function is =LEFT(B2,FIND(" ",B2,1)-1) But my file is too big that I cannot change the variable in Excel.

How can I write the code to convert the variable?

Thanks

Re: Remove Character

sbb — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 14:54:02 GMT

Using a DATA step, have a SAS assignment statement use SUBSTR function and also the FIND function (to locate the first blank from the end) using a negative value for argument #3 to start from the end of the variable.

Scott Barry
SBBWorks, Inc.

Re: Remove Character

sfs — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 01:58:18 GMT

Thanks a million.

Re: Remove Character

advoss — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 13:40:03 GMT

Using a negative finds the first blank from the right side of the variable. From your example, I think that you want to find the first blank from the left side. So, don't use -1, use 1, if that is truly the case.

Re: Remove Character

sbb — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 16:30:03 GMT

Good point, advoss - in that case, consider using the SCAN function.

Scott Barry
SBBWorks, Inc.