FULLNAME to FIRST NAME; LAST NAME (via Contact Name or Business Contact)

[Dsrountree]

input fullname indicator;
datalines;
LEX HIBEAULT NM
LEX V TEORGE NM
AEX-SUT ENERGY CO

BOBBY N MAJUK CO
;

If I need to parse the following data and indicator = NM put scan 1 into first name and scan 2 into last name.

The problem is when a middle initial appears.  I dont want to put V into last name.

It should put Teorge into last name and ignore the V.

Also Bobby N Majuk should be parsed as Bobby first name and Majuk last name.  Even when the indicator is CO

I tried to write a data set with if then based on evaluating the full name to see if a character after the first scan was = 1, then treat it as first name last name and move each section from full name to first name then last name.

Had no luck.

[Reeza]

Pull out the last part (CO/NM).

Then use COUNTW to see the number of words in the string use SCAN to get the first and third strings and if it's 2 use SCAN to get the first and second names.

[Dsrountree]

can you write out the data set?

[Dsrountree]

@Reeza - Your suggestion seems more logical, but I never used countw in a data set.

Can you write a mock example of how it would parse the following:

John A Smith

John Smith

New York Times

Flex Gym

ABC Constructions

A contact (user) will either be two syllables (John Smith) or two syllables with a middle initial (John A Smith)

A Company/Business will show up as:

Two syllable - (Flex Gym, ABC Constructions), or three syllable (New York Times)

One parsed into these multiple sets it will have to be reviewed manually to validate where the mixture/blend of two syllable contact and company business took place.

I forsee this (hot mess) mixing items like Flex Gym and John Smith in the same column due to using a scan/countw.

Thanks in advance.

[Astounding]

A relatively easy way:

firstname  = scan(fullname, 1, ' ');

lastname = scan(fullname, -2, ' ');

That way you don't have to check for a middle initial.  You get the first word, and the next-to-last word.

[HB]

Is Gabriel José de la Concordia García Márquez NM in your dataset?

Or Casey's General Store CO?

[Dsrountree]

This data is a hot mess...The problem with scan is a company can also be in the column and be 3 syllables.
Ex:ACME Marketing Company