How to run a condition with LIKE or CONTAINS, or do similar things?

[d6k5d3]

I have rows of news which I need to give codes to based on individuals in the news. I am trying to do the following thing:

data zzz;

set yyy;

if there is "% Bernanke%" in Event, then there is a new column SF1=1; else SF1=0;

if there is "% Rosengren%" in Event, then there is a new column SF2=1; else SF2=0;

if there is "% Paulson%" in Event, then there is a new column SF3=1; else SF3=0;

… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …

run;

Also, I would like to set the length of the new variables (columns) SF1, SF2, SF3... to $5. How can I set the length for all the new columns at the beginning except writing: length SF1 $5.; for each new variable?

Regards.

[ChrisBrooks · Accepted solution]

To reference multiple variables with the same prefix and a numeric suffix you can use a hyphen as in the example below. You can also use the find function to search a string for a substring.

Here's an example using the SASHELP.CARS data set

data out;
	length sf1-sf3 $5;
	set sashelp.cars;
	if find(model,"convertible") then sf1=1;
		else sf1=0;
	if find(model,"manual") then sf2=1;
		else sf2=0;
	if find(model,"auto") then sf3=1;
		else sf3=0;	
run;
	

[Astounding]

If you define a variable as character with a length of 5, and then attempt to store a number in it, do you have any idea of what the result will be?

[d6k5d3]

So stupid of me! I realized my mistake. Thank you 😄