Use of colon in SAS code

[marina_esp]

Dear SAS Users,

My question maybe basic, but I dared to ask you.

Are there a certain rules of using ":" in the SAS code? I understand well how : helps to explain "all columns that start with..." like in this example when calculating sum:

data quiz_summary;
	set pg2.class_quiz;
	Name = upcase(Name); 
	Mean3=mean(of Q:);
run;

However, there are more instances where I saw : , but I am not sure what does it mean there. Please, see this example:

data regions;
input id c :$2. x;
cards;
1 N2  50
2 S1  20
3 N1 100
4 S2  70
5 N1  60
;

data south;
set regions;
if c=:'S';
run;

If you know a document or a book chapter that explains all possible uses of : in SAS, please let me know. I would highly appreciate that!

Marina

[PaigeMiller]

if c=:'S';

When the equal sign is followed by a colon, it means that it is testing to see if the character variable BEGINS WITH the letter or string shown. So, for example, if you wanted to test if a state name begins with the letters NE, you could write

if state_name=:"NE";

which would select states NEVADA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW MEXICO, NEW YORK and NEBRASKA.

This test is case sensitive.

[marina_esp]

Thank you @PaigeMiller,

Now I see how else we can use : ,   you  resolved my confusion!

[novinosrin · Accepted solution]

Hi @marina_esp   The document has compiled your curiosity very well I think. See if this helps when you have time

https://support.sas.com/resources/papers/proceedings/proceedings/sugi26/p073-26.pdf