Date:         Thu, 29 Sep 2005 17:28:34 -0400
Reply-To:     Richard Ristow <wrristow@mindspring.com>
Sender:       "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <SPSSX-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Richard Ristow <wrristow@mindspring.com>
Subject:      Re: String Transformation
Comments: To: Arthur Aguirre <arthur.aguirre@INCEPTA-MI.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <3B31B3436E1BF040B1DB268B0A6D01B154F643@amer-mail-05.amer.i
              ncepta.net>
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At 12:39 PM 9/29/2005, Arthur Aguirre wrote:

>I have the following compute function:
>
>comp x=concat("if"," ","y=","""",ltrim(rtrim(y)),"""","","code=","
>",".").
>
>It would be useful to insert tab spaces verses singles spaces (" ").
>Anyone know if this is possible?

Do you mean, having the components, like "y=", starting at fixed
positions in the string? If so, it can be done, but the neck is what
it's a pain in. I've done it this way, though this particular code is
untested.

Suppose you want 'y=' to start in position 8;
the literal """",ltrim(rtrim(y)),"""","" to start in position 14;
the assignment and command terminator "code=","","." to start in
position 26;

First, I'm going to recast your expressions so literals in YOUR code
are delimited by single quote, and literals in the OUTPUT code
delimited by double quotes. Sorry: code that writes code is very hard
to read at the best of times. Very much including my own, for that
purpose. If I get this right, it may be a little easier to read. (But I
don't think it is wholly right.)

Position 01: 'if'
Position 08: 'y='
Position 14: CONCAT('"', ltrim(rtrim(y)), '"', '')
Position 26: CONCAT('code=', '', '.').

The pain in the neck
COMPUTE        x       = 'if'.
COMPUTE SUBSTR(x,08)   = 'y='.
COMPUTE SUBSTR(x,14)   = CONCAT('"',
                                   ltrim(rtrim(y)),
                                 '"', '').
COMPUTE SUBSTR(x,26)   = CONCAT('code=', '', '.').

I'm sure I've got syntax errors in there. Maybe, at least that's a
usable idea.