tobydunn@HOTMAIL.COM wrote back: > >On Wed, 24 Jan 2007 04:07:13 +0000, toby dunn <tobydunn@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote: > > >Art , > > > >Ian leaves me confused quite a bit and I often find careful, thoughful, >and > >often long study of what he says yeilds some perl of wisdom. I would >rather > >think Ian is saying that this particular text parsing problem has been > >solved using PRX. So why use something that is less robust to solve the > >problem, well the level of skil in a shop is one valid reason I can see. > >But pushing th limits every now and again ussually isnt a bad thing. >Heck > >if we never ventured out we would get no where in our development. > > > >So to that end I offer this PRX solution that may very well make Perl >heads > >cringe... > > > >data test; > >input var $11. ; > >datalines; > >w2y > >w34y4h > >w38h45m23s > >p5d23m > >p61h > >w56s > >; > >run; > > > > > >Data Need ( Keep = Var Sec Min Hour ) ; > >Set Test ; > >Retain Pattern ; > > > >If _N_ = 1 Then Pattern = PRXParse( "/\d+[smh]/" ) ; > > > >Start = 1 ; > >Stop = Length( Var ) ; > > > >Call PrxNext( Pattern , Start , Stop , Var , Match , Length ) ; > > > >Do I = 1 By 1 While( ( Match > 0 ) and ( I < Stop ) ) ; > > > > Temp = Substr( Var , Match , Length ) ; > > > > If Index( Temp , 's' ) Then Sec = Input( Compress( Temp , 's' ) , >8. > >) ; > > Else If Index( Temp , 'm' ) Then Min = Input( Compress( Temp , 'm' ) , >8. > >) ; > > Else If Index( Temp , 'h' ) Then Hour = Input( Compress( Temp , 'h' ) , >8. > >) ; > > > > Call PrxNext( Pattern , Start , Stop , Var , Match , Length ) ; > >End ; > > > > > >Run ; > > > > > >Proc Print > >data = Need ; > >Run ; > > > > > > > >Toby Dunn > > > >Both the INDEX and COMPRESS functions above could be replaced with regex. > >Ken

> >Ken , > >Geez man do I look like a Perl head....

I'll take the Fifth, your honor. :-)

> I just muddle my way through when it >comes to Perl. I just wished it was easier to read. >

Check out the /x modifier, so you can insert spacing for readability. It's not as good as what the /x modifier does in Perl, but it's better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.

HTCT, David -- David L. Cassell mathematical statistician Design Pathways 3115 NW Norwood Pl. Corvallis OR 97330

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