Date:         Tue, 22 May 2001 10:50:16 -0400
Reply-To:     Jeffrey Cohen <jcohen@PHEAA.ORG>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Jeffrey Cohen <jcohen@PHEAA.ORG>
Subject:      Breaking a name field into its parts
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

I have a data set with a name field that contains the full name, Fist,
Middle, Last and sometimes things like jr, III etc.  The field does not
always have a Middle name or initial.  I'm looking for a way to pick out
the Last name only, for comparison purposes.  I thought of using the Index
function but I'm not sure how to get around the possibility of a missing
middle name and the existence of a suffix like jr.

Jeff Cohen
Accounting Systems Analyst
Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency