Problem regarding scan with negative number?

[Phil_NZ]

Hi all SAS Users,

Today I answer wrongly the question below regarding scan function

To me I still think b should be the correct answer. Because scan function accept the negative number to read from the right. I still do not think that the answer c is correct, because it is redundant, because',' is a default delimiter in SCAN function so we do not need to list it out .

I may fall in a fallacy but I cannot convince me myself the correct answer is c instead of b.

Warmest regards and thanks.

[FreelanceReinh · Accepted solution]

Hi @Phil_NZ,

The issue with answer b is that it uses all default delimiters, i.e., including the blank, which results in Country='Zealand' for observation no. 3. (Maxim 4: Try it.)

However, answer c is not ideal either: Without using the 'R' modifier it leaves a leading blank in variable Country because a blank follows the comma (i.e., the only word delimiter used) in CityCountry. For HTML output (as shown in the screenshot) this doesn't matter, but, e.g., a WHERE condition Country='India' would fail.

[Phil_NZ]

Thank you @FreelanceReinh 

I see the case 'Zealand' ,it makes total sense to me now.

Warm regards.