SAS Character functions(Part 2)

 SAS Character functions(Part 2)

A quick reference

Objective : This article aims at creating a one stop solution for all SAS character functions with explanation and usage examples. This is the Second of the two posts on SAS Character functions. The first post can be found here:
SAS Character function Part 1.
Other posts on functions can be found below:
SAS Date Time Functions(Part 1)

Theory : SAS functions are one of the most useful constructs designed to make our life simple and easy. Here I will try to cover all frequently used SAS character functions with examples. You can also define your own functions and subroutines but that is a separate topic in itself and I will discuss it in a separate post.

Below is the alphabetic list of character functions I have used with a simple examples and usage notes. You can just scroll through to find the function you are searching for.

Function	Usage	Syntax	Function Example	Returns
FIRST	To extract first character from a string	FIRST(string)	FIRST("Saurabh")	S
INDEX	To locate the starting position of a substring in a string.	INDEX(String,Search string)	INDEX("being human","human")	7
INDEXC	To search a character string for one or more characters	INDEXC(String,character list)	INDEX("being human","abc")	1
LEFT	Left aligns character values by moving leading blanks to the end of string	LEFT(string)	LEFT("   Hello")	Hello
LENGTH	Returns the length of a string, not counting trailing balnks	LENGTH(String)	LENGTH("ABC    ")	3
LENGTHC	Returns the length of a string, counting trailing balnks	LENGTHC(String)	LENGTHC("ABC    ")	6
LENGTHM	Returns the length of a string, in memory	LENGTH(String)	LENGTHM(" ")	1
LOWCASE	Converts all characters to Lowercase	LOWCASE(String)	LOWCASE("HeLLO")	hello
MISSING	Used ti determine whether the argument's value is missing. Returns 0 for non-missing otherwise 1	MISSING(String)	MISSING(" ")	1
NOTALNUM	Searches for the first occurrence of an Alphanumeric character in a string.	ANYALNUM(String <,startpos>)	Anyalnum("%$#sa1",2)	2
	Second argument gives the position to start the search.
NOTALPHA	To determine the position of the first character in a string that is not an alphanumeric.	NOTALPHA(String <,startpos>)	notalpha("%$#sa1",1)	1
NOTDIGIT	To determine the position of the first character in a string that is not a numeric.	NOTDIGIT(String <,startpos>)	notdigit("%$#sa1",1)	1
NOTLOWER	To determine the position of the first character in a string that is not a lowercase character.	NOTLOWER(String <,startpos>)	notlower("%$#sa1",1)	1
NOTUPPER	To determine the position of the first character in a string that is not an alphanumeric.	NOTUPPER(String <,startpos>)	Anypunct("%$#sa1",1)	1
PROPCASE	Capitalizes first letter of each word in a string	PROPCASE(String)	Propcase("indira gandhi")	Indira Gandhi
RANK	To give ranks or obtain relative position of ASCII characters	RANK(char)	RANK("A")	65
REPEAT	Repeats a given string. Result is the original string plus repapeated ones	REPEAT(String,number of times)	REPEAT("Hi",3)	HiHiHiHi
REVERSE	Reverses a given string	REVERSE(String)	REVERSE("HELLO")	OLLEH
RIGHT	Right aligns a string by putting trailing blanks at beginning	RIGHT(String)	RIGHT("ABC    ")	"    ABC"
SCAN	Returns the nth word from a string	SCAN(String,number)	SCAN("how are you",3)	you
STRIP	Removes leading as well as trailing blanks	STRIP(string)	STRIP("  ABC  ")	"ABC"
SUBSTR	Extracts a part of a string	SUBSTR(String,startpos<,length>)	SUBSTR("mohit",2,3)	ohi
TRANSLATE	Changes one character value to another. Lists can be passed and the character will be replaced by their corresponding characters	TRANSLATE(String,to_list,from_ list)	TRANSLATE("mr india","xy","mi")	xr yndya
TRANWRD	Replaces one word by other	TRANWRD(String, find , replace)	TRANWRD("how are you","how","who")	who are you
TRIM	Removes trailing blanks	Trim(string)	TRIM("ABC   ")	"ABC"
UPCASE	Converts all characters to Upppercase	UPCASE(String)	UPCASE("Hello")	"HELLO"

Conclusion : This and the previous post is not an exhaustive list of all SAS Character functions available but it covers almost all functions you’ll use in day to day job

And a alphabetical list like this can act as your quick reference or you can even print and stick it on your desk for super quick reference.

I have tried my best to eliminate erros but if any please write it as a comment. Suggestion are always welcome.

Will be back with some more topics. Till then goodbye.

Saurabh Singh Chauhan
(er.chauhansaurabh@gmail.com)

Note : If you need an article on a specific topic please post as comment.

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