Just be careful with the index function ... it looks for a string, not a word. Thus if the original text contained the word LOCOMOTION, the index function would locate the string MOTION. I think there is also an indexw function which locates words, but you'd need to check it out and see how it handles punctuation.

Good luck.

Bob V.

-----Original Message----- From: Fehd, Ronald J. <rjf2@CDC.GOV> Newsgroups: bit.listserv.sas-l To: SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> Date: Friday, March 01, 2002 9:48 AM Subject: Re: scanning

>> From: Shannon [mailto:swheatma@FJC.GOV] >> Is there anyway to scan the first 10 words of the example below and >> flag whether certain words appear (i.e. motion, appeal, defendant - >> I'd want a flag variable for each): >> >> NOTICE OF APPEAL, defendant filed a motion in >> court to appeal . . . > >input Line $char80.; >Line = upcase(Line);%* or downcase, whichever you prefer to test for; >Motion = index(Line,'MOTION');%*returns integer in 1:~72; >Motion = index(Line,'MOTION') gt 0;%*returns boolean integer in 0,1; > >... etc. > >Ron Fehd the macro maven CDC Atlanta GA USA RJF2@cdc.gov >OpSys: Win_Pro Ver: 8.2 >--> cheerful provider of UNTESTED SAS code from the Clue?Gee!Wrx <--