Sounds Like operator

[noobs]

I am struggling to understand what is better to use as an operator while resolving the requirement to mimic SOUNDS LIKE feature. The data set contains variable Emp_Name that has values like

Reddy

Reddie

Redy

and output data set needs to filter all these observations. So I can use

WHERE Emp_Name =* 'Red' ;

What is primary difference between =* and =: ?

Very new to Base SAS programming so data cleansing is my challenge.

[Reeza]

=* uses the soundex algorithm

SAS(R) 9.2 Language Reference: Dictionary, Fourth Edition

=: basically checks if the word starts with the same letters. Case matters, so if it was 'red' you would get no entries returned.

24851 - Using a Colon Modifier to Select Observations with Values Beginning with a Specific Characte...