topic Re: colon wildcard doesn't work in format statement in SAS Programming

colon wildcard doesn't work in format statement

baldphil — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 15:27:06 GMT

I am trying to create a date dimension table. Here is my code:

data date_dim;

format date: date9.;

do date='01JAN1990'd to '31DEC2089'd;

date_yr_begin=intnx('Year', date, 0);

output;

end;

run;

The formatting does not work, however when I use the format statement with the variable names made expliciy, it does work. What's wrong?

data_null__ — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 15:53:07 GMT

When the FORMAT statement compliled there are no varaibles that begin with DATE. Think about it.

baldphil — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 15:56:29 GMT

what about date_yr_begin?

data_null__ — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 15:57:51 GMT

move the format to AFTER the variables are defined.

baldphil — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 15:58:16 GMT

OK, I get it. Put format at the end. Thx

Haikuo — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 15:59:02 GMT

if you have difficulty understanding DN's precise answer, here is one in action: move your format statement after the loop.

Haikuo