data logic

[Almoha]

All, 

I have the following values in a variable VAR1. Need to create a variable VAR2 and populate x and Y

        VAR1

x                  /1234/ ()

y                  /4567/ ()

        VAR1                                           VAR2

x                  /1234/ ()                         x

y                  /4567/ ()                          y

[SuryaKiran]

Your representation of sample data doesn't make sense. Please provide proper sample data.

If they are properly delimited then you can use SCAN or SUBSTR functions or if looking for specific words then use FIND or INDEX 

data test;
infile datalines ;
input var1 $20.;
datalines;
x /1234/ ()
y /4567/ ()
;
run;

data want;
set test ;
var2=scan(var1,1);/* If they are properly delimited by space*/
run;

[Almoha]

No ,there are not properly spaced.
and can have mutiple () () or {} etc..

[andreas_lds]

---

@Almoha wrote:
No ,there are not properly spaced.
and can have mutiple () () or {} etc..

---

Then, please, be so kind to post example data having the same complexity as your real data.

[PeterClemmensen]

data have;
input VAR1 $50.;
datalines;
x                  /1234/ ()
y                  /4567/ ()
;

data want;
   set have;
   var2=substr(VAR1,1,1);
run;

[Astounding]

Even simpler?

data want;

set have;

length var2 $ 1;

var2=var1;

run;