Using a Wildcard to Create a New Variable

[dpachorek]

Hi!

I have a dataset that has degree program names that end with the degree type. I want to create a new variable with just these variable types that are tacked on to the end of the program names (BS, BSEd, M.Ac, MS, etc.). I figured a wildcard% would work for this but it is not working like I thought it would. Here are two tests I did trying to get it to work:

data Programs_With_States_IND;
	set work.PROGRAMS_WITH_STATES_IND;
		if Degree_Program_Name like '%BS%'
		then Degree_Type = 'BS';

		else if Degree_Program_Name like '%M.Ac%'
		then Degree_Type = 'M.Ac';

		else if Degree_Program_Name like '%MAT%'
		then Degree_Type = 'MAT';

		else if Degree_Program_Name like '%MA%'
		then Degree_Type = 'MA';
run;

proc sql;
	create table prog_test as
		select *, case 
			when Degree_Program_Name like '%BS%' then 'BS'
			
			when Degree_Program_Name like '%MA%' then 'MA'
		end as Degree_Type
		from work.programs_with_states_ind;
quit;

Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

[Reeza · Accepted solution]

LIKE isn't valid in a data step, instead look at the FIND() and INDEX() functions for similar functionality.