st: Re: Manipulating strings

["Michael Blasnik" <michael.blasnik@verizon.net>]

help itrim() will show you

replace postcode=trim(itrim(postcode))

Michael Blasnik
michael.blasnik@verizon.net

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <sdm1@york.ac.uk>
To: <statalist@hsphsun2.harvard.edu>
Sent: Friday, April 07, 2006 10:24 AM
Subject: st: Manipulating strings



> I want to merge two files using a postcode variable.  In both the master 
> and
> using files postcode is an 8 character string.  And in both files the
> postcode comprises an outward part (of up to the first four characters),
> followed by a blank, followed by an inward element (the remaining three
> characters).  For example: YO10 5DD, B1 4TH, DR3 5HJ.
>
> The problem is that the outward part is left justified in one file but 
> right
> justified (to the blank) in the other.  Consequently the merge works for
> postcodes - such as 'YO10 5DD' - where the outward part occupies all four
> positions (the left and right justification generate the same result) but
> does not work where the outward part has less than four characters e.g., 
> for
> Y10 5DD which is ' Y10 5DD' in one file but 'Y10  5DD' in the other.
>
> Any suggestions how to overcome this would be most welcome.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Steve
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