25025 - Search a text string for a 'pattern' multiple times in succession

Sample 25025: Search a text string for a 'pattern' multiple times in succession

/* Find all instances of cat, rat, or bat within TEXT */ 

data _null_;
  patternID = prxparse('/[crb]at/');
  text = 'The woods have a bat, cat, and a rat!';
  start = 1;
  stop = length(text);

  /* Use PRXNEXT to find the first instance of the pattern, */
  /* then use DO WHILE to find all further instances.       */
  /* PRXNEXT changes the start parameter so that searching  */
  /* begins again after the last match.                     */
  call prxnext(patternID, start, stop, text, position, length);
  do while (position > 0);
     found = substr(text, position, length);
     put found= position= length=;
     call prxnext(patternID, start, stop, text, position, length);
  end;
run;

These sample files and code examples are provided by SAS Institute Inc. "as is" without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Recipients acknowledge and agree that SAS Institute shall not be liable for any damages whatsoever arising out of their use of this material. In addition, SAS Institute will provide no support for the materials contained herein.

 OUTPUT to SAS log 

 found=bat position=18 length=3
 found=cat position=23 length=3
 found=rat position=34 length=3

Type:	Sample
Topic:	SAS Reference ==> DATA Step SAS Reference ==> CALL routines

Date Modified:	2005-12-08 11:34:39
Date Created:	2005-01-13 15:09:55

Product Family	Product	Host	SAS Release
Product Family	Product	Host	Starting	Ending
SAS System	Base SAS	z/OS	9 TS M0	n/a
		Microsoft® Windows® for 64-Bit Itanium-based Systems	9 TS M0	n/a
		64-bit Enabled HP-UX	9 TS M0	n/a
		64-bit Enabled AIX	9 TS M0	n/a
		64-bit Enabled Solaris	9 TS M0	n/a
		HP-UX IPF	9 TS M0	n/a
		OpenVMS Alpha	9 TS M0	n/a
		Linux	9 TS M0	n/a
		Tru64 UNIX	9 TS M0	n/a

Support

Sample 25025: Search a text string for a 'pattern' multiple times in succession

Operating System and Release Information