topic character datetime to datetime in SAS Programming

character datetime to datetime

Orange4 — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 18:55:42 GMT

hello - i have been given a dataset called "char_dates" with a variable called "date_added" formatted as $CHAR20. and would like it converted to datetime.

examples of date_added entries:

3/21/2019 17:05 EDT

3/7/2019 18:10 EST

I have attempted the conversion with the following, but have been unsuccessful:

data num_dates;

set char_dates;

new_date = input(date_added, anydtdtm19.);

format new_date datetime19.;

run;

Any advice?

Mike

Re: character datetime to datetime

PaigeMiller — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 19:00:35 GMT

Unsuccessful? Please explain. What happens that is unsuccessful? Why do you think the result is unsuccessful? Are there error messages (if so, please show us)?

Re: character datetime to datetime

Orange4 — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 19:01:44 GMT

my apologies - no error is created; rather the output is missing / null

Re: character datetime to datetime

PaigeMiller — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 19:11:49 GMT

Get rid of the alphabetic characters EDT or EST

new_date = input(compress(date_added,,'a'), anydtdtm19.);

Re: character datetime to datetime

Orange4 — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 19:21:03 GMT

brilliant - thanks so much!