Extracting first few digits from a class

[jiasyuen]

data base1;
set lib.base1;

run;

proc summary data=base1 nway missing;
class prd;
var gp;

run;

My prd is a set of date. I am required to extract the first 4 digits of it. For example, 202012, and I only need 2020. 

Is there any way to extract it? Thank you.

[andreas_lds]

Depends on the type of prd:

• if it is a string, use substr-function
• if it is numeric, convert in to string and use substr
• if you have a real date, use year-function to extract the year.

[jiasyuen]

Let say it's a string. How would I convert? Can you show me the line of code? Thank you.

[Patrick · Accepted solution]

data base1;
set lib.base1;
prd2=substrn(prd,1,4);
run;