String Difference in Percentage

[JAR]

Dear All,

I would like to learn how to calculate % change, when two strings are compared.

Here is the original file:

1	RAT	CAT
2	BELL	BALL
3	TIME	TOM

As there is only one character that is different in the first observation, it should return 1/3 %(number of deviation / total number of char in the original).

Desired output is something like this:

1	RAT	CAT	33
2	BELL	BALL	25
3	TIME	TOM	50

Thanks in advance,

Jijil Ramakrishnan

[stat_sas]

Try this for the desired output.

data have;
input obs var1 $ var2 $;
datalines;
1 RAT CAT
2 BELL BALL
3 TIME TOM
;

data want;
set have;

do i=1 by 1 while(substr(var1,i,1) ne ' ');
if index(var2,substr(var1,i,1))>0 then cnt+1;
output;
end;
cnt=0;
run;

data final (drop=i cnt);
set want;
by obs;
if last.obs;
diff=(i-cnt)/i*100;
format diff 8.0;
run;

[JAR]

Thank you so much.

[PGStats]

Approximate matches between strings is an already well researched topic. SAS provides you with many tools in that area. Please look at SAS functions COMPGED, COMPLEV, SOUNDEX, and SPEDIS.

PG

[JAR]

Thanks a lot!