syntax to show a string variable under a certain number of characters

[liradorovict]

I have some zipcode data and a large data set, I use the first number of the zipcode to code for large regions. I noticed, however, that there are a few mistyped zipcodes under 5 characters and want to know if there is any way to flag them so I can recode them as missing. My variable is a string to account for the "-" displayed in full zipcodes (for example: 10016-0136). Is there any way to do this?

Thanks!

[Maguin, Eugene]

I think what you want is this:

If (index(zipcode,'-') ne 6) error=1.

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of liradorovict
Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2012 10:35 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: syntax to show a string variable under a certain number of characters

I have some zipcode data and a large data set, I use the first number of the zipcode to code for large regions. I noticed, however, that there are a few mistyped zipcodes under 5 characters and want to know if there is any way to flag them so I can recode them as missing. My variable is a string to account for the "-" displayed in full zipcodes (for example: 10016-0136). Is there any way to do this?

Thanks!




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[Bruce Weaver]

In the FM (aka the Command Syntax Reference manual), see Universals > Transformation Expressions > String Functions.  Notice the CHAR.LENGTH function, which you can use to return the length of your string variable (with trailing blanks removed).

liradorovict wrote

I have some zipcode data and a large data set, I use the first number of the zipcode to code for large regions. I noticed, however, that there are a few mistyped zipcodes under 5 characters and want to know if there is any way to flag them so I can recode them as missing. My variable is a string to account for the "-" displayed in full zipcodes (for example: 10016-0136). Is there any way to do this?

Thanks!

[Art Kendall]

Are you sure none of your zipcodes would be in New England?

see if this is what you want to do.

data list list/zip9(a10).
begin data
   "2909-1234"
   " 2909-1234"
   "20782-1438"
   "909-1234"
end data.
string cleanzip9 (a10).
compute wheredash = index(zip9,'-').
do if wheredash eq 6.
   do if wheredash eq 6 and substr(zip9,1,1) eq ' '.
      compute cleanzip9 = concat('0',ltrim((rtrim(zip9)))).
   ELSE.
      compute cleanzip9 = zip9.
   end if.
else if wheredash eq 5.
   compute cleanzip9 = concat('0',rtrim(zip9)).
ELSE.
   print / 'pattern not provided for' $casenum, ' ', zip9.
end if.
list.

On 12/13/2012 10:34 AM, liradorovict wrote:

I have some zipcode data and a large data set, I use the first number of the
zipcode to code for large regions. I noticed, however, that there are a few
mistyped zipcodes under 5 characters and want to know if there is any way to
flag them so I can recode them as missing. My variable is a string to
account for the "-" displayed in full zipcodes (for example: 10016-0136). Is
there any way to do this?

Thanks!




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[Art Kendall]

Are you sure none of your zipcodes would be in New England?

see if this is what you want to do.

data list list/zip9(a10).
begin data
   "2909-1234"
   " 2909-1234"
   "20782-1438"
   "909-1234"
end data.
string cleanzip9 (a10).
compute wheredash = index(zip9,'-').
do if wheredash eq 6.
   do if wheredash eq 6 and substr(zip9,1,1) eq ' '.
      compute cleanzip9 = concat('0',ltrim((rtrim(zip9)))).
   ELSE.
      compute cleanzip9 = zip9.
   end if.
else if wheredash eq 5.
   compute cleanzip9 = concat('0',rtrim(zip9)).
ELSE.
   print / 'pattern not provided for' $casenum, ' ', zip9.
end if.
list. On 12/13/2012 11:55 AM, Art Kendall wrote:

Are you sure none of your zipcodes would be in New England?

see if this is what you want to do.

data list list/zip9(a10).
begin data
   "2909-1234"
   " 2909-1234"
   "20782-1438"
   "909-1234"
end data.
string cleanzip9 (a10).
compute wheredash = index(zip9,'-').
do if wheredash eq 6.
   do if wheredash eq 6 and substr(zip9,1,1) eq ' '.
      compute cleanzip9 = concat('0',ltrim((rtrim(zip9)))).
   ELSE.
      compute cleanzip9 = zip9.
   end if.
else if wheredash eq 5.
   compute cleanzip9 = concat('0',rtrim(zip9)).
ELSE.
   print / 'pattern not provided for' $casenum, ' ', zip9.
end if.
list.

On 12/13/2012 10:34 AM, liradorovict wrote:

I have some zipcode data and a large data set, I use the first number of the
zipcode to code for large regions. I noticed, however, that there are a few
mistyped zipcodes under 5 characters and want to know if there is any way to
flag them so I can recode them as missing. My variable is a string to
account for the "-" displayed in full zipcodes (for example: 10016-0136). Is
there any way to do this?

Thanks!




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[Rick Oliver-3]

If zip code is a string, then I think it would normally contain the leading zeroes, but assuming it does not:

data list list/zip9(a10).
begin data
   "2909-1234"
   " 2909-1234"
   "20782-1438"
   "909-1234"
end data.
compute zip9=replace(zip9, "-", "").
compute zip9=string(number(ltrim(zip9), n9), n9).
compute zip9=concat(substr(zip9, 1, 4), "-", substr(zip9, 5)).
list.

Rick Oliver
Senior Information Developer
IBM Business Analytics (SPSS)
E-mail: [hidden email]



From:        Art Kendall <[hidden email]>
To:        [hidden email],
Date:        12/13/2012 11:04 AM
Subject:        Re: syntax to show a string variable under a certain number of              characters
Sent by:        "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <[hidden email]>

---

Are you sure none of your zipcodes would be in New England?

see if this is what you want to do.

data list list/zip9(a10).
begin data
  "2909-1234"
  " 2909-1234"
  "20782-1438"
  "909-1234"
end data.
string cleanzip9 (a10).
compute wheredash = index(zip9,'-').
do if wheredash eq 6.
  do if wheredash eq 6 and substr(zip9,1,1) eq ' '.
     compute cleanzip9 = concat('0',ltrim((rtrim(zip9)))).
  ELSE.
     compute cleanzip9 = zip9.
  end if.
else if wheredash eq 5.
  compute cleanzip9 = concat('0',rtrim(zip9)).
ELSE.
  print / 'pattern not provided for' $casenum, ' ', zip9.
end if.
list.
Art Kendall
Social Research Consultants
On 12/13/2012 11:55 AM, Art Kendall wrote:
Are you sure none of your zipcodes would be in New England?

see if this is what you want to do.

data list list/zip9(a10).
begin data
  "2909-1234"
  " 2909-1234"
  "20782-1438"
  "909-1234"
end data.
string cleanzip9 (a10).
compute wheredash = index(zip9,'-').
do if wheredash eq 6.
  do if wheredash eq 6 and substr(zip9,1,1) eq ' '.
     compute cleanzip9 = concat('0',ltrim((rtrim(zip9)))).
  ELSE.
     compute cleanzip9 = zip9.
  end if.
else if wheredash eq 5.
  compute cleanzip9 = concat('0',rtrim(zip9)).
ELSE.
  print / 'pattern not provided for' $casenum, ' ', zip9.
end if.
list.

Art Kendall
Social Research Consultants
On 12/13/2012 10:34 AM, liradorovict wrote:
I have some zipcode data and a large data set, I use the first number of the
zipcode to code for large regions. I noticed, however, that there are a few
mistyped zipcodes under 5 characters and want to know if there is any way to
flag them so I can recode them as missing. My variable is a string to
account for the "-" displayed in full zipcodes (for example: 10016-0136). Is
there any way to do this?

Thanks!




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[Melissa Ives]

Look at  CHAR.LENGTH(strexpr). Numeric. Returns the length of strexpr in characters, with any trailing blanks removed.
Compute a flag if it is <5.
M
-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of liradorovict
Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2012 9:35 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [SPSSX-L] syntax to show a string variable under a certain number of characters

I have some zipcode data and a large data set, I use the first number of the zipcode to code for large regions. I noticed, however, that there are a few mistyped zipcodes under 5 characters and want to know if there is any way to flag them so I can recode them as missing. My variable is a string to account for the "-" displayed in full zipcodes (for example: 10016-0136). Is there any way to do this?

Thanks!




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[Rick Oliver-3]

Oops. I put the dash in the wrong place:

data list list/zip9(a10).
begin data
   "2909-1234"
   " 2909-1234"
   "20782-1438"
   "909-1234"
end data.
compute zip9=replace(zip9, "-", "").
compute zip9=string(number(ltrim(zip9), n9), n9).
compute zip9=concat(substr(zip9, 1, 5), "-", substr(zip9, 6)).
list.


Rick Oliver
Senior Information Developer
IBM Business Analytics (SPSS)
E-mail: [hidden email]



From:        Rick Oliver/Chicago/IBM
To:        [hidden email],
Cc:        [hidden email]
Date:        12/13/2012 11:18 AM
Subject:        Re: syntax to show a string variable under a certain number of              characters

---

If zip code is a string, then I think it would normally contain the leading zeroes, but assuming it does not:

data list list/zip9(a10).
begin data
   "2909-1234"
   " 2909-1234"
   "20782-1438"
   "909-1234"
end data.
compute zip9=replace(zip9, "-", "").
compute zip9=string(number(ltrim(zip9), n9), n9).
compute zip9=concat(substr(zip9, 1, 4), "-", substr(zip9, 5)).
list.

Rick Oliver
Senior Information Developer
IBM Business Analytics (SPSS)
E-mail: [hidden email]




From:        Art Kendall <[hidden email]>
To:        [hidden email],
Date:        12/13/2012 11:04 AM
Subject:        Re: syntax to show a string variable under a certain number of              characters
Sent by:        "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <[hidden email]>

---

Are you sure none of your zipcodes would be in New England?

see if this is what you want to do.

data list list/zip9(a10).
begin data
  "2909-1234"
  " 2909-1234"
  "20782-1438"
  "909-1234"
end data.
string cleanzip9 (a10).
compute wheredash = index(zip9,'-').
do if wheredash eq 6.
  do if wheredash eq 6 and substr(zip9,1,1) eq ' '.
     compute cleanzip9 = concat('0',ltrim((rtrim(zip9)))).
  ELSE.
     compute cleanzip9 = zip9.
  end if.
else if wheredash eq 5.
  compute cleanzip9 = concat('0',rtrim(zip9)).
ELSE.
  print / 'pattern not provided for' $casenum, ' ', zip9.
end if.
list.
Art Kendall
Social Research Consultants
On 12/13/2012 11:55 AM, Art Kendall wrote:
Are you sure none of your zipcodes would be in New England?

see if this is what you want to do.

data list list/zip9(a10).
begin data
  "2909-1234"
  " 2909-1234"
  "20782-1438"
  "909-1234"
end data.
string cleanzip9 (a10).
compute wheredash = index(zip9,'-').
do if wheredash eq 6.
  do if wheredash eq 6 and substr(zip9,1,1) eq ' '.
     compute cleanzip9 = concat('0',ltrim((rtrim(zip9)))).
  ELSE.
     compute cleanzip9 = zip9.
  end if.
else if wheredash eq 5.
  compute cleanzip9 = concat('0',rtrim(zip9)).
ELSE.
  print / 'pattern not provided for' $casenum, ' ', zip9.
end if.
list.

Art Kendall
Social Research Consultants
On 12/13/2012 10:34 AM, liradorovict wrote:
I have some zipcode data and a large data set, I use the first number of the
zipcode to code for large regions. I noticed, however, that there are a few
mistyped zipcodes under 5 characters and want to know if there is any way to
flag them so I can recode them as missing. My variable is a string to
account for the "-" displayed in full zipcodes (for example: 10016-0136). Is
there any way to do this?

Thanks!




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[liradorovict]

Thanks everyone, your suggestions were very helpful.

[Art Kendall]

People dealing with addresses might find this useful

http://www.melissadata.com/lookups/batchaddresscheck.asp
On 12/13/2012 3:57 PM, liradorovict wrote:

Thanks everyone, your suggestions were *very* helpful.



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