Contains statement can't be located in SAS EG

[cf8261a]

I am trying to run a PROC SQL statement with a contains statement, but the log keeps saying:

ERROR: Function CONTAINS could not be located.

Is contains not a valid function that can be used in proc sql steps?

[SASKiwi]

Posting an error message without the code that caused it leaves us guessing what you are doing. Please post the offending code.

[cf8261a]

proc sql;

select Reason from Active where contains(Reason, 'opportunity');

run; quit;

ERROR: Function CONTAINS could not be located.

Here is that code snippet

[SASKiwi · Accepted solution]

proc sql;

select Reason from Active where Reason contains 'opportunity';

run; quit;

CONTAINS isn't a function.

[whymath]

And you can replace it by "?"：

proc sql;
  select Reason from Active where Reason ? 'opportunity';
quit;

[AMSAS]

To add some context to @SASKiwi reply

The syntax @cf8261a had for contains makes SAS think you are referring to a function (e.g. function_name(argument#1,..., argument#n)

The error message is correct "contains" is not a function it is the CONTAINS Operator and the correct syntax is:

sql_expression <NOT> CONTAINS  sql_expression 

[Reeza]

The FIND or INDEX function can be used in place of CONTAINS or you can fix the syntax as noted by @SASKiwi

[cf8261a]

Thank you everyone for all of the helpful comments!