> From: Schulthess, Rebecca [mailto:schulthr@MMRF.MFLDCLIN.EDU] > I have a file that has a variable, CSZ3, which contains the > city, state and > zip. Example: Marshfield WI 54449 (space delimited). I am using the > following code to extract the separate parts > city=scan(csz3,1,''); The > problem I have is when the city name is more than one word. > For example ST > GERMAINE WI 54558. All I get is the ST. Does anyone know > how I can get > both parts of the city name? (The length of the city name > changes with each different city).

oh, definitely a question for the SAS-L Whizards!

you can approach this from either side trying to figure when you have a two-word city or just whack off the state and zip.

city = scan(csz3,1,' '); state = scan(csz3,2,' '); zip = scan(csz3,3,' ');

you'll remember from recent threads that scan can take a negative position argument so zip = scan(csz3,-1,' '); and state = scan(csz3,-2,' '); now that we have the state, we'll whack from position one up to state: City = substr(csz3,1,index(csz3,State));%* you may want to trim() State;

alternatly you could use tranword(sp) function: City = tranwrd(csz3,trim(zip) ,' '); City = tranwrd(csz3,trim(State),' ');

for the case, perhaps decidely remote, where your city name contains the state abbreviation: City = tranwrd(csz3,' ' !! trim(State) !! ' ',' ');

hth

Ron Fehd the string-handling maven CDC Atlanta GA USA RJF2@cdc.gov OpSys: WinNT Ver: 8.1 ---> cheerful provider of UNTESTED SAS code!*! <--- archives: http://www.listserv.uga.edu/archives/sas-l.html By using your intelligence you can sometimes make your problems twice as complicated. -- Ashleigh Brilliant