Get rid of initial string

[MarcTC]

I am wondering if there is a simple statement which can do the following conversion.

If a string begins with X's, then get rid of all initial X's.

Some examples here:

XDANO => DANO
XXQRX => QRX
XMKR => MKR
XXXDMZ => DMZ
CANE => CANE

[chang_y_chung_hotmail_com]

Here is one way.

   data _null_;

     length x y $8;

     do x = "", "A", "XDANO", "XXQRX", "XMKR";

       y = prxchange("s|^X+||",1,x);

       put x= @10 y=;

     end;

   run;

   /* on log

   x=       y=

   x=A      y=A

   x=XDANO  y=DANO

   x=XXQRX  y=QRX

   x=XMKR   y=MKR

   */

[MarcTC]

Thanks, this is great!

[RickM]

Here is another solution.

Good luck!

[pre]
data one;
input names $;
datalines;
XDANO
XXQRX
XMKR
XXXDMZ
CANE
;

data two;
set one;
do while (upcase(char(names,1)) eq "X");
names=substr(names,2);

end;
run;
[/pre]

[Ksharp]

Hi.
I have another choice.


[pre]
data one;
input names $;
datalines;
XDANO
XXQRX
XMKR
XXXDMZ
CANE
;
run;
data one;;
set one;
if upcase(names) eq : 'X' then names=substr(names,verify(names,'xX'));
put names=;
run;

*or just more explicit and simple;
data one;;
set one;
names=substr(names,verify(names,'xX'));
put names=;
run;

[/pre]


Ksharp Message was edited by: Ksharp