topic Re: Formatting dates in SAS Data Management

Formatting dates

Babloo — Fri, 09 Mar 2018 13:12:07 GMT

I've used the following code to convert the date to the format date7. But after executing the code I'm receiving value as *******.

Variable feemisio is a datevalue which has informats datetime23. Example: 21FEB2018:16:54:00

proc print data=temp;
format feemisio date7.;
run;

Appreciate if someone of you help me to resolve the issue.

Re: Formatting dates

Kurt_Bremser — Fri, 09 Mar 2018 13:49:49 GMT

I guess you have already been told this repeatedly.

You cannot use a date format on a datetime value.

The reason being that datetime values are a count of seconds from 1960-01-01T00:00:00, while date values are a count of days from 1960-01-01.

So, for any given date, the datetime is 86400 * date!

If you want to convert a datetime value to a date value, use the datepart() function in the same step where you assign the date format.

Re: Formatting dates

Babloo — Fri, 09 Mar 2018 14:49:31 GMT

How I can deal this in SAS DI studio without using user written transformation? Will it works if I change only the format for the variable under mapping tab?

Re: Formatting dates

LinusH — Fri, 09 Mar 2018 15:41:36 GMT

Again, you must separate the concept of data values and formats.
What @Kurt_Bremser says is that you need to change the data value before you can apply the format required.
You don't need a user written transformation. You need to use a mapping expression like the datepart function. Can be used in many transformations like Table Loader, Extract and SQL Join.

Re: Formatting dates

Tom — Fri, 09 Mar 2018 15:44:16 GMT

If you want to display just the date part of a datetime value you can use the DTDATE format.

PS. Don't use width of 7. Use a width of 9 (or 11) so that you can see the century part of the year.

Re: Formatting dates

Babloo — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 08:28:34 GMT

My requirement is see the date values in date7. Format and I have to do
this manipulation in DI Studio.

Re: Formatting dates

Babloo — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 06:00:21 GMT

If I understand correctly, I need to use the expression like datepart(feemisio) under mapping tab of the target table for the respective variable. Then I will change the format to date7. under format column of the respective variable.

Re: Formatting dates

LinusH — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 10:27:01 GMT

The best way to verify your understanding is to try it out!