Separating data points

[desireatem]

 Hello Madam/Sir,

I have this data set with variables Meds1-Meds10.

I have to create 10 other variables Medi1-Medi10 such that Medi1-Medi10 should have only the name of the medication, that is the first character variable. For example in obs 1,  Meds1,  the first data point is LIPITOR 10MG TABLET. This will be Lipitor. That is 10MG TABLET deleted. The case like in obs 3, Meds2, the BUDESONIDE will stay BUDESONIDE in the new name Medi2.

SAS DATA

Obs	Meds1	Meds2	Meds3	Meds4	Meds5	Meds6	Meds7	Meds8	Meds9	Meds10
1	LIPITOR 10 MG TABLET	BUDESONIDE	COREG 12.5 MG TABLET	NEXIUM 20 MG CAPSULE,DELAYED RELEASE	FLUTICASONE 50 MCG/ACTUATION NASAL SPRAY,SUSPENSION	FLUTICASONE 50 MCG/ACTUATION NASAL SPRAY,SUSPENSION	ISOSORBIDE MONONITRATE ER 60 MG TABLET,EXTENDED RELEASE 24 HR	LEVALBUTEROL HFA 45 MCG/ACTUATION AEROSOL INHALER	LEVALBUTEROL 0.63 MG/3 ML SOLUTION FOR NEBULIZATION	LISINOPRIL 20 MG
2	ALBUTEROL SULFATE HFA 90 MCG/ACTUATION AEROSOL INHALER	AMLODIPINE 10 MG TABLET	ATORVASTATIN 10 MG TABLET	LIPITOR 20 MG TABLET	BUDESONIDE	COREG 25 MG TABLET	NEXIUM 20 MG CAPSULE,DELAYED RELEASE	FLUTICASONE 50 MCG/ACTUATION NASAL SPRAY,SUSPENSION	LISINOPRIL 20 MG	LORATADINE 10 MG TABLET
3	LIPITOR 10 MG TABLET	BUDESONIDE	ESOMEPRAZOLE MAGNESIUM 20 MG CAPSULE,DELAYED RELEASE	FLUTICASONE 50 MCG/ACTUATION NASAL SPRAY,SUSPENSION	ISOSORBIDE MONONITRATE ER 60 MG TABLET,EXTENDED RELEASE 24 HR	LEVALBUTEROL HFA 45 MCG/ACTUATION AEROSOL INHALER	LISINOPRIL 20 MG	LORATADINE 10 MG TABLET	METOPROLOL TARTRATE 25 MG TABLET	VERAPAMIL ER (SR) 240 MG TABLET,EXTENDED RELEASE
4	ALBUTEROL SULFATE HFA 90 MCG/ACTUATION AEROSOL INHALER	AMLODIPINE 10 MG TABLET	ATORVASTATIN 10 MG TABLET	LIPITOR 20 MG TABLET	BUDESONIDE	CARVEDILOL 25 MG TABLET	NEXIUM 20 MG CAPSULE,DELAYED RELEASE	FLUTICASONE 50 MCG/ACTUATION NASAL SPRAY,SUSPENSION	ISOSORBIDE MONONITRATE ER 60 MG TABLET,EXTENDED RELEASE 24 HR	LISINOPRIL 20 MG
5	LIPITOR 10 MG TABLET	BUDESONIDE	ESOMEPRAZOLE MAGNESIUM 20 MG CAPSULE,DELAYED RELEASE	FLUTICASONE 50 MCG/ACTUATION NASAL SPRAY,SUSPENSION	ISOSORBIDE MONONITRATE ER 60 MG TABLET,EXTENDED RELEASE 24 HR	LEVALBUTEROL HFA 45 MCG/ACTUATION AEROSOL INHALER	LISINOPRIL 20 MG	LORATADINE 10 MG TABLET	METOPROLOL TARTRATE 25 MG TABLET	VERAPAMIL ER (SR) 240 MG TABLET,EXTENDED RELEASE
6	ALBUTEROL 90 MCG/ACTUATION AEROSOL INHALER	EXFORGE HCT 10 MG	CALCIUM 600 + D(3) 600 MG (1,500 MG)	VITAMIN D2 50,000 UNIT CAPSULE	CENTRUM ORAL	GABAPENTIN 100 MG CAPSULE	FISH OIL 1,000 MG CAPSULE	FLUTICASONE 110 MCG/ACTUATION HFA AEROSOL INHALER	FAMOTIDINE 20 MG TABLET	GABAPENTIN 100 MG CAPSULE
7	EXFORGE HCT 10 MG	CALCIUM 600 + D(3) 600 MG (1,500 MG)	CARVEDILOL 3.125 MG TABLET	FAMOTIDINE 20 MG TABLET	FLUTICASONE 50 MCG/ACTUATION NASAL SPRAY,SUSPENSION	CENTRUM ORAL	FUROSEMIDE 20 MG TABLET	GABAPENTIN 100 MG CAPSULE	GABAPENTIN 100 MG CAPSULE	LEVOCETIRIZINE 5 MG TABLET
8	AMLODIPINE 10 MG TABLET	EXFORGE HCT 10 MG	CALCIUM 600 + D(3) 600 MG (1,500 MG)	CARVEDILOL 3.125 MG TABLET	FAMOTIDINE 20 MG TABLET	FLUTICASONE 50 MCG/ACTUATION NASAL SPRAY,SUSPENSION	CENTRUM ORAL	GABAPENTIN 100 MG CAPSULE	GABAPENTIN 100 MG CAPSULE	CLARITIN 10 MG TABLET
9	PROVENTIL HFA 90 MCG/ACTUATION AEROSOL INHALER	ALBUTEROL 90 MCG/ACTUATION AEROSOL INHALER	EXFORGE HCT 10 MG	CALCIUM 600 + D(3) 600 MG (1,500 MG)	FAMOTIDINE 20 MG TABLET	CENTRUM ORAL	GABAPENTIN 100 MG CAPSULE	FISH OIL 1,000 MG CAPSULE	FLUTICASONE 50 MCG/ACTUATION NASAL SPRAY,SUSPENSION	EXFORGE HCT 10 MG
10	ALBUTEROL SULFATE HFA 90 MCG/ACTUATION AEROSOL INHALER	ALBUTEROL 90 MCG/ACTUATION AEROSOL INHALER	EXFORGE HCT 10 MG	EXFORGE HCT 10 MG	FAMOTIDINE 20 MG TABLET	GABAPENTIN 100 MG CAPSULE	CLONIDINE HCL 0.1 MG TABLET	CENTRUM ORAL	FISH OIL 1,000 MG CAPSULE	CALCIUM 600 + D(3) 600 MG (1,500 MG)

[kiranv_ · Accepted solution]

med1=scan(med1,1) and similar thing should work if it is only value. if you want to extract the value till the number then

data lll;
retain pattern;
 IF _N_ =1 THEN PATTERN = PRXPARSE ("/([^0-9]+)/"); 
input a $50.;
if prxmatch(pattern, a) then 
 call prxposn(pattern, 1, position, length);
 val = substr(a,position, length);
drop pattern position length; 
datalines;
my medicine 345
medicine 293
my medicine nice 76 this
; 

[ballardw]

So what do you want for the medi value from ALBUTEROL SULFATE HFA 90 MCG/ACTUATION AEROSOL INHALER?

If you only want ALBUTEROL then the scan function works fine. If you want more  then much more work may be needed, such as defining how we know which part is actually needed for the longer compound names.