how to devide the context of 1 variable into several variables

[michellel]

Hi, I have one variable, which context looks as below. I need separate the original variable into the most 4 new variables, so I can do calculation and also can check unit. The digits of number are not the same, so it is hard to use substr function. Really appreciate your help!

var_original               var_want1  var_want2  var_want3  var_want4

500 MG-7.5 MG          500            MG          7.5          MG

50 MG/hl                    50             MG/hl

20 MG-5 MG               20              MG          5            MG

[slchen]

data have;

  input var_original $20.;

  array vars (4)$ var1-var4;

  do i=1 by 1;

     if missing(scan(var_original,i,' -')) then return;

     vars(i)=scan(var_original,i,' -');

  end;

  drop i;

  cards;

500 MG-7.5 MG         

50 MG/hl                   

20 MG-5 MG

;

run;

[michellel]

Thanks slchen| Your code works, but actually I missed providing another type of example as below.

10 MG/5 ML-6.25 MG/5 ML

In this case, there will be ERROR like the following.

ERROR: Array subscript out of range at line 21 column 3.

STRNGTH=10 MG/5 ML-6.25 MG/5 ML

var1=10 var2=MG/5 var3=ML

var4=6.25 _ERROR_=1 _N_=168

[ballardw]

Add sufficient variables to the ARRAY statement to cover your worst case.

[michellel]

it works. Thanks ballardw!

[Ksharp]

Code: Program

data have;
  input text $20.;
  cards;
500 MG-7.5 MG  
50 MG/hl  
20 MG-5 MG
;
run;

data temp;
 set have;
ExpressionID = prxparse('([\d.]+|[^\d.]+)');
start = 1;
stop = length(text);
call prxnext(ExpressionID, start, stop, text, position, length);
do while (position > 0);
found = substr(text, position, length);
output;
call prxnext(ExpressionID, start, stop, text, position, length);
end;
keep text found;
run;
proc transpose data=temp out=want(drop=_:) prefix=var_want;
by text notsorted;
var found;
run;