count character variables that begins with...

[mwei0041]

I want a variable "T08_count" that counts the 6 character long variables "code_1-code_44", which BEGIN with "T08". I have made following code, but then it count all variables of "code_1-code_44" which contain "T08" at any place in the string: 

data pb; 

set work.pb;

array t (1) $6_temporary_('T08');

do i=1 to dim(t);

T08_count=sum(T08_count, count(catx(' ', of code_1-code_44), STRIP( t[i], 'i'));

end;

drop i;

run; 

[PaigeMiller]

This is UNTESTED code. If you want tested code, you must provide a portion of your data as SAS data step code which you can type in yourself or have SAS create it (instructions); and not in any other format. This code uses the =: (note the colon after the equal sign) to test if a string begins with a certain value.

data want;
    set have;
    array y code_1-code_44;
    do i=1 to dim(y);
        count=sum(count,y(i)=:'T08');
    end;
run;