As others have shown, the second parameter in INDEX can refer to a variable. It doesn't have to be a fixed string. However, when you use a variable, there is one issue that you might need to attend to: the possibility of trailing blanks. If you want the variable V1 to be the second parameter (the string to be searched for), it would be safer to use strip(v1) as the second parameter.
I did a small test though i am not sure what you are after:
Using index, indexw, find and findw
data have;
V1="sgd";
v2="hdsgdk";
output;
V1="kjh";
v2="ukjhso";
output;
run;
data want;
set have;
index=index(v2,v1);
indexw=indexw(v2,v1);
find=find(v2,v1);
findw=findw(v2,v1);
run;
Unless I'm not understanding the question properly you've answered it yourself
data _null_;
v1="sgd";
v2="hdsgdk";
if index(v2,v1) then put "found";
else put "not found";
v1="kjh";
v2="ukjhso";
if index(v2,v1) then put "found";
else put "not found";
/* Just for contrast */
v1="sgd";
v2="ukjhso";
if index(v2,v1) then put "found";
else put "not found";
run;
As others have shown, the second parameter in INDEX can refer to a variable. It doesn't have to be a fixed string. However, when you use a variable, there is one issue that you might need to attend to: the possibility of trailing blanks. If you want the variable V1 to be the second parameter (the string to be searched for), it would be safer to use strip(v1) as the second parameter.
Are you ready for the spotlight? We're accepting content ideas for SAS Innovate 2025 to be held May 6-9 in Orlando, FL. The call is open until September 25. Read more here about why you should contribute and what is in it for you!
Learn how use the CAT functions in SAS to join values from multiple variables into a single value.
Find more tutorials on the SAS Users YouTube channel.