extract string that varies in length and number of delimiters

[jenim514]

Hi all,

If I have values that consistently are in this type of layout- (that is  a wanted character string between ( x) and a (char date.)..

AE: (6) urinary tract infection 22-NOV-2017

Is there a way to  just extract the 'urinary tract infection' to a new variable?

Help is appreciated!

[novinosrin · Accepted solution]

data have;
input var $80.;
call scan(var,-1,position, length,' ');
k1=index(var,')');
need= substr(var,index(var,')')+1,position-k1-1);
drop k: position length;
cards;
AE: (6) urinary tract infection 22-NOV-2017
;

[jenim514]

@novinosrin  thank you!  HUGE help!!!

[Andygray]

@jenim514  You could mark the question as answered and close the thread

[SuryaKiran]

If you data looks like the example you showed i.e. you have lowercase for the string you want to extract remaning other than lowercase then you can use COMPRESS() function with "k" (keeps the characters in the list instead of removing them) and "l" modifier (adding lowercase to list).

DATA HAVE;
STRING="AE: (6) urinary tract infection 22-NOV-2017";
Want_Str=STRIP(COMPRESS(STRING,"","kl"));
run;