String: Extract first part of a string

[Marvin Aliaga]

Hello guys,

This may be a very easy questions but I couldn't figure it out. I have a string variable that looks something like this:

MMDC-6MA.
CC - GG55
GMO - GU564

I need to extract the first letters before the sign "-", So I need: GMDC , CC, GMO.

Any ideas?

I would greatly appreaciate it,
Marvin

[Nick Cox]

Marvin:

Please use dataex (SSC)!
Please use dataex (SSC)!
Please use dataex (SSC)!

... even for simple examples.

The following shows some technique.

clear 

input str42 somemarvinstuff 
"MMDC-6MA."
"CC - GG55"
"GMO - GU564"
end 

gen demo1 = substr(somemarvinstuff, 1, strpos(somemarvinstuff, "-") - 1) 
gen demo2 = trim(demo1) 

list 

     +-----------------------------+
     | somemarvi~f   demo1   demo2 |
     |-----------------------------|
  1. |   MMDC-6MA.    MMDC    MMDC |
  2. |   CC - GG55     CC       CC |
  3. | GMO - GU564    GMO      GMO |
     +-----------------------------+

Step 1. Find the dash. How do you that? With a string function. How do you find the right one? Read help string functions.

Step 2. You want whatever lies between position 1 and just before the dash. Then same advice as above.

Step 3. Probably, the spaces are meaningless. If so, remove them. Then same advice as above.

[Marvin Aliaga]

Thanks Nick! Will do!