How to truncate a character variable based on certain sign

[Calcium99]

One of my variable looks as follows:

STAGE_9

1.0=LIMITED

10.0=IN SITU

11.0=RAD OCCULT

2.0=EXTENSIVE

3.0=STAGE IA

4.0=STAGE IB

5.0=STAGE IIA

5.5=EARLYSTAGE

6.0=STAGE IIB

7.0=STAGE IIIA

7.5=LATESTAGE

8.0=STAGE IIIB

9.0=STAGE IV

N

U

How can I truncate the variable base on the "=" sign and make it 1.0, 2.0 etc.

Thank you!

[Kurt_Bremser · Accepted solution]

stage9 = scan(stage9,1,'=');

in a data step, of course.

[slchen]

function compress will work even stage_9='U' or 'N'. 

new_stage_9=compress(stage_9, '.','kd');