Date:         Mon, 7 Oct 2002 10:08:36 -0700
Reply-To:     "Parise, Carol A." <PariseC@sutterhealth.org>
Sender:       "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <SPSSX-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         "Parise, Carol A." <PariseC@sutterhealth.org>
Subject:      splitting name field syntax
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Hi all,

I'm using the following syntax to split up a variable called pt_nme into the variables  lname and fname. the error i'm getting is:
 Incorrect variable name: either the name is more than 8 characters, or it is not defined by a previous command.

Since it's not more than 8 characters, is there another command that i'm missing that defines the pt_name variable that needs to go before all of this?

STRING lname(A10).
STRING fname(A10).
COMPUTE #I = INDEX(pt_name,',').
COMPUTE lname=SUBSTR(pt_name,1,#I-1).
COMPUTE fname=SUBSTR(pt_name,#i+1).
EXECUTE.

Thanks much
Carol
Sacramento CA