How to convert zipcode to state?

[Student77]

Hello,

I have heard of the zipstate() function, but I am not sure how to first get my data in the correct structure to be able to use it. I want to add 2 columns to the following data, a new variable called zipcode, and a new one called state

.

So I want to figure out first how to extract the first zip, ie the first 5 digits from "zipcode_5"  ( we will use the first zipcode, even when there are multiple, since only the state will matter). and then create a state variable, that uses the newly created, single zipcode

I appreciate any help.

Data

[PaigeMiller · Accepted solution]

state=zipstate(substr(zipcode_5,1,5));

The SUBSTR function in this case selects the first 5 characters.

[Student77]

I understand this part, but as I stated, I first need to create a column that selects the first 5 digits in the zipcode_5 variable.

zipstate() does not work for those that have multiple zips, for ex, someone may have a "zipcode_5" of 77550_77555_77553, and zipstate() returns a blank for these.

So I need to first create a column called "zip" where it extracts the first 5 digits from zipcode_5 and then run zipstate on the new variable with single zipcodes.

[Student77]

perfect thanks!