Searching string for cases that begin with...

[Teun Rox]

Hope there is someone who can answer my question.
I'm no SPSS braniac to begin with. But I think this should be pretty easy to
do. (even though I can't find anything about it on the internet)

I have a file with Postal codes (Zip Codes) from the UK
HP12 4QS
WD18 0QB
NG10 5FZ
BD3 2GZ <<< Want to select these
BN27 3UY
DE3 5NS
AB2 3BD <<< Do NOT want to select these
CB1 2ND
LE8
B31 5PB
CO4 3SQ
B48 7PS
DA12 2LQ
BD20 0BQ <<< Want to select these

I want to select all Postal codes that begin with "BD"
I have tried the "IF INDEX" but it will also give me postal codes with BD on
the end or in between.

Hopefully someone has a syntax to search a string for this. It would also be
nice to know how to find cases that end on (for example) "BD" (for any
future research)
I want to do this with a syntax since we are talking about more then 400.000
cases and manually ascending by hand will be a lot of work.

Thanks in advance!

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[Lemon, John S.]

Untested syntax

Select if ( ( substr ( ( ltrim ( rtrim ( postcode ))), 1, 2 ) eq 'BD' )

The Ltrim & Rtrim or to remove leading and trailing spaces, I always do that for 'belt and braces', and the Substr chops out the first two characters!!

Best Wishes

John S. Lemon

DIT - Student Liaison Officer
University of Aberdeen
Edward Wright Building: Room G51
Tel:  [phone]
Fax: [phone]


-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Teun Rox
Sent: 19 March 2008 17:29
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Searching string for cases that begin with...

Hope there is someone who can answer my question.
I'm no SPSS braniac to begin with. But I think this should be pretty easy to
do. (even though I can't find anything about it on the internet)

I have a file with Postal codes (Zip Codes) from the UK
HP12 4QS
WD18 0QB
NG10 5FZ
BD3 2GZ <<< Want to select these
BN27 3UY
DE3 5NS
AB2 3BD <<< Do NOT want to select these
CB1 2ND
LE8
B31 5PB
CO4 3SQ
B48 7PS
DA12 2LQ
BD20 0BQ <<< Want to select these

I want to select all Postal codes that begin with "BD"
I have tried the "IF INDEX" but it will also give me postal codes with BD on
the end or in between.

Hopefully someone has a syntax to search a string for this. It would also be
nice to know how to find cases that end on (for example) "BD" (for any
future research)
I want to do this with a syntax since we are talking about more then 400.000
cases and manually ascending by hand will be a lot of work.

Thanks in advance!

=====================
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[hidden email] (not to SPSSX-L), with no body text except the
command. To leave the list, send the command
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For a list of commands to manage subscriptions, send the command
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The University of Aberdeen is a charity registered in Scotland, No SC013683.

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