Remove Character

[sfs]

I am trying to remove characters after a space in a string variable.
i.e. Change "Johns,Robert James" to "Johns,Robert".

In excel, the function is =LEFT(B2,FIND(" ",B2,1)-1) But my file is too big that I cannot change the variable in Excel.

How can I write the code to convert the variable?

Thanks

[sbb]

Using a DATA step, have a SAS assignment statement use SUBSTR function and also the FIND function (to locate the first blank from the end) using a negative value for argument #3 to start from the end of the variable.

Scott Barry
SBBWorks, Inc.

[sfs]

Thanks a million.

[advoss]

Using a negative finds the first blank from the right side of the variable. From your example, I think that you want to find the first blank from the left side. So, don't use -1, use 1, if that is truly the case.

[sbb]

Good point, advoss - in that case, consider using the SCAN function.

Scott Barry
SBBWorks, Inc.