DQPATTERN Function

Returns a pattern analysis from an input character value.

Valid in:	DATA step and SCL
Requirement:	If specified, the locale must be loaded into memory as part of the locale list.

Syntax

Syntax

DQPATTERN('char' , 'pattern-analysis-definition' <,'locale'>)

Required Arguments

char

specifies a character constant, variable, or expression that contains the value that is the name of the input character value that is analyzed.

pattern-analysis-definition

the name of the pattern analysis definition. The definition must exist in the locale that is used.

Optional Argument

locale

specifies a character constant, variable, or expression that contains the locale name.

Default

The default locale is the first locale in the locale list. If no value is specified, the default locale is used.

Details

The DQPATTERN function returns a pattern analysis from an input character value. DQPATTERN identifies words or characters in the input value as numeric, alphabetic, non-alphanumeric, or mixed. The choice of pattern analysis definition determines the nature of the analysis as follows:

non-alphanumeric, such as punctuation marks or symbols

alphabetic

mixture of alphabetic, numeric, and non-alphanumeric

numeric

Example: DQPATTERN Function

The following example analyzes the words in the input character value. The results are written to the SAS log using the PUT statement.

pattern=dqPattern('WIDGETS 5','32CT','WORD','ENUSA');
put pattern;

The DQPATTERN function returns A N* M. Using the CHARACTER pattern analysis definition returns AAAAAAA N* NNAA.