Transforming Data with SAS Functions
Modifying Character Values with Functions

Introduction to Modifying Character Values This section teaches you how to use SAS functions to manipulate character variable values. After completing this section, you will be able to replace the contents of a character value trim trailing blanks from a character value search a character value and extract a portion of the value convert a character value to uppercase or lowercase. To begin, let's look at some of the modifications that need to be made to the character variables in Hrd.Temp. These modifications include separating the values of one variable into multiple variables

SAS Data

Name	LastName	FirstName	MiddleName
CICHOCK, ELIZABETH MARIE	CICHOCK	ELIZABETH	MARIE
BENINCASA, HANNAH LEE	BENINCASA	HANNAH	LEE

replacing a portion of a character variable's values

SAS Data

Phone	Phone
6224549	4334549
6223251	4333251

searching for a specific string within a variable's values.

SAS Data

Job
filing, administrative duties
bookkeeping, word processing, accounting

Character Functions The character functions listed below can help you complete these tasks. You will learn about these functions as you continue this lesson.

Function	Purpose
SCAN	Returns a specified word from a character value.
SUBSTR	Extracts a substring or replaces character values.
TRIM	Trims trailing blanks from character values.
INDEX	Searches a character value for a specific string.
UPCASE	Converts all letters in a value to uppercase.
LOWCASE	Converts all letters in a value to lowercase.