Date:         Fri, 20 Jul 2007 13:07:11 -0400
Reply-To:     Arthur Tabachneck <art297@NETSCAPE.NET>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Arthur Tabachneck <art297@NETSCAPE.NET>
Subject:      Re: How can I count the number of words per line within a variable
Comments: To: Rodney Presley <rpa9@CDC.GOV>

It DEFINITELY must be Friday.  Try:
http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind9908b&L=sas-l&P=12494

Art
--------
On Fri, 20 Jul 2007 08:45:53 -0400, Presley, Rodney (CDC/CCHP/NCBDDD)
<rpa9@CDC.GOV> wrote:

>Try this little macro.  I got it many years ago from someone on the list
>or an Observations article.  But since I no longer know where I got it I
>can't give proper credit to the originator.  But I use it frequently.
>
>Rodney
>
>
>/* this macro counts the number of words in a
>   macro variable and places that value in the
>   global macro variable "WDCOUNT".
>   The number of words is used
>   to set do loop counters in other macros.
>   Macro variables:
>        WORD  is the name of the macro variable
>            which contains the list of words
>            to be counted.
>        WDCOUNT is the name of the macro variable
>           which will contain the number of "words"
>           in the macro variable WORD after the
>           macro runs.
>*/
>%macro word_cnt(word);
>  %global wdcount;
>  %local x;
>  %let count=0;
>  %let x=0;
>  %do %while (&x>=0);
>     %let count=%eval(&count+1);
>     %let x=%scan(&word,&count,' ');
>  %end;
>  %let wdcount=%trim(%eval(&count-1));
>%mend word_cnt;
>
>/* sample use.
>   %word_cnt(&members)
>*/
>
>
>Rodney J. Presley, PhD
>Division of Hereditary Blood Disorders
>Work Phone: 404-718-8630
>Main Number: 404-718-8600
>Fax: 404-718-8650
>Email: RPresley@cdc.gov
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: SAS(r) Discussion [mailto:SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of
>vatodorov
>Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2007 4:31 PM
>To: SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
>Subject: How can I count the number of words per line within a variable
>
>I have a variable, which is a name. However, some people have written
>only their first and last name, where as others have put first, last and
>middle name. And there are some who may have more than three names.
>
>Does anyone have an idea of how to count the number of names for every
>observation?
>
>thanks.