Extract character from string (scan automatisation)

[PRG_ZF]

Hellow friends,

data

data test;
length usercation $ 200;
input usercation $ ;

cards;

PDF_STUDY_11225_15/12/2016
PDF_45896_12/05/2017_HTT
PDF_STUDY_CURVE
;
run;

I want to create a new variable which contains just the first carcaterial part of the variable usercation before the '_'  

for example: PDF_STUDY_11225_15/12/2016 ->PDF_STUDY

                    PDF_45896_12/05/2017_HTT       ->PDF

                     PDF_STUDY_CURVE                 -> PDF_STUDY_CURVE

In fact I would like automated processing for many lines.

Thank you very much for your help!

[Jagadishkatam · Accepted solution]

Please try

data test;
length usercation $ 200;
input usercation $ ;

cards;

PDF_STUDY_11225_15/12/2016
PDF_45896_12/05/2017_HTT
PDF_STUDY_CURVE
;
run;

data want;
set test;
if prxmatch('/_\d/',usercation)>0 then new=substr(usercation,1,prxmatch('/_\d/',usercation));
else new=usercation;
run;

[PRG_ZF]

Thank you very much!

it works very well!

[art297]

Minor correction to @Jagadishkatam's suggested code:

data want;
  set test;
  if prxmatch('/_\d/',usercation)>0 then new=substr(usercation,1,prxmatch('/_\d/',usercation)-1);
  else new=usercation;
run;

Art, CEO, AnalystFinder.com

[PRG_ZF]

Thank you very much for correction!

it works very well!