Extract the middle numbers from an Alphanumeric string of varying length

[suncawy]

Hello,

  I'm needing to extract the middle numbers from an alphanumeric string that can have varying lengths.

This an example of the alphanumeric strings:

    Have:

             1)  SC_NATLTAP_P_617686046__0520 

             2)  NC_OPTUM PARTD_R_220335038421000999P__0910

  Want:

            1)  617686046

            2)  220335038421000999P

I've used Compress, but still leaves the last 4 digits, which I don't need.

ID = Compress(clm_nb,"_","A");

Thank you in advance.

[average_joe · Accepted solution]

This assumes the substring you want always begins with the first digit in the string.

data have;
infile cards;
input x $ string &:$50.;
cards;
1)  SC_NATLTAP_P_617686046__0520 
2)  NC_OPTUM PARTD_R_220335038421000999P__0910
;
run;

data want;
set have;
start = anydigit(string);  * find location of first digit;
num = scan(substr(string, start), 1, '_');  * extract substring that end with '_'; 
drop x start;
run;