How to Use the TRANSLATE Function in SAS?

Core Syntax and Positional Parameters

The TRANSLATE function provides a highly efficient means within the SAS Data Step to replace every occurrence of specific characters in a source string with new characters, relying entirely on positional mapping between the characters defined in the TO and FROM arguments.

The function adheres to the following precise syntax structure:

TRANSLATE(source, to, from)

A detailed explanation of the three required positional arguments is provided below:

• source: This argument specifies the name of the character variable or string within the dataset that the function will scan and modify.
• to: This argument lists the replacement characters. The character at position N in the FROM string is replaced by the character at position N in the TO string.
• from: This argument contains the list of characters that the function is instructed to locate and replace within the source variable.

It is essential to remember that TRANSLATE operates on a case-sensitive basis. If you intend to replace both uppercase and lowercase versions of a character, both must be explicitly included in the FROM argument, with corresponding replacements defined in the TO argument.

Setting Up the Demonstration Dataset

To effectively illustrate the application of character manipulation using the TRANSLATE function, we will establish a simple sample dataset. This dataset, named my_data, models basketball player statistics and contains a character variable, position, which we will target for modification in the subsequent examples.

/*create dataset: Defining the structure and population of the input data for demonstration*/
data my_data;
    input team $ position $ points assists;
    datalines;
A Guard 14 4
A Guard 22 6
A Guard 24 9
A Forward 13 8
A Forward 13 9
A Guard 10 5
B Guard 24 4
B Guard 22 6
B Forward 34 2
B Forward 15 5
B Forward 23 5
B Guard 10 4
;
run;

/*view dataset: Displaying the initial data structure before any character manipulation takes place*/
proc print data=my_data;

The initial output shows the raw character strings in the position variable, which will be the subject of our transformation exercises.

Example 1: Direct Character Substitution

This example demonstrates the fundamental usage of the TRANSLATE function by performing a straightforward substitution: replacing every instance of the lowercase letter “r” within the position column with the letter “z”. This highlights the character-level, global nature of the function, where all matching characters are systematically changed.

We are creating a new dataset, new_data_1, where the transformation is applied. The statement position = translate(position, "z", "r"); instructs SAS to look for the single character in the FROM string (“r”) and replace it with the single character in the TO string (“z”).

/*create new dataset: Applying the TRANSLATE operation*/
data new_data_1;
    set my_data;
    position = translate(position, "z", "r");
run;

/*view new dataset*/
proc print data=new_data_1;

Reviewing the Results of Direct Substitution

The resulting data confirms the successful substitution. The original values like “Guard” and “Forward” have been transformed into “Guazd” and “Fowazd” respectively, demonstrating that the function targeted and replaced all instances of ‘r’ within the character variable.

Observe that every occurrence of the letter “r” in the position column has been precisely replaced with the letter “z”. This immediate and comprehensive replacement capability makes the TRANSLATE function highly effective for batch updates and data standardization.

Example 2: Using TRANSLATE for Character Deletion

The TRANSLATE function can also be utilized for character deletion, which is achieved by specifying a TO string that is shorter than the FROM string, or in this case, an empty string (""). This setup instructs SAS to replace the targeted characters (in this case, “r”) with blank spaces.

The following code demonstrates how to use TRANSLATE to replace each occurrence of “r” in the position column with a blank, followed by the necessary step to remove the resulting whitespace:

/*create new dataset: Applying TRANSLATE for removal, followed by COMPRESS*/
data new_data_2;
    set my_data;
    position = compress(translate(position, "", "r"));
run;

/*view new dataset*/
proc print data=new_data_2;

Integrating TRANSLATE with COMPRESS for Whitespace Management

When TRANSLATE replaces characters using an empty TO string, it inserts a single blank space for each character removed. To achieve true character deletion—where the string is compacted without residual spaces—it is best practice to nest the TRANSLATE function within the COMPRESS function.

The output image illustrates the result of this combined operation.

The combined use of TRANSLATE and COMPRESS function effectively achieves the goal of removing the string “r” from each position name, resulting in compacted strings like “Guad” and “Fowad”.

Note #1: We utilized the COMPRESS function wrapped around the TRANSLATE function to remove all trailing and internal blanks that were generated by the substitution of ‘r’ with a space in the position column.

Official Documentation and Resources

Note #2: For detailed specifications regarding parameter limitations, character encoding, and advanced usage scenarios of the TRANSLATE function, please consult the complete documentation provided by SAS.

The following resources offer further guidance on performing other common data manipulation and character handling tasks in SAS: