topic Why does this simple do function create a null in the first row in SAS Programming

Why does this simple do function create a null in the first row

RikeshPunja — Thu, 02 Dec 2021 16:24:15 GMT

I am trying to get a list of the last day of each month for the last 6 months from a specific date.

Here is my code and it produces a blank for the first row and I'm not sure why.

data DateList;
	enddate= '30Sep2021'd;
	do i = -1 to -5 by -1;
	    output;
		date=intnx('month',enddate,i,'e');
	end;
	keep date;
	format date DDMMYY10.;
run;

Any help and explanation would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Re: Why does this simple do function create a null in the first row

Tom — Thu, 02 Dec 2021 16:33:32 GMT

Since you don't assign any value to DATE (the only variable you are keeping) before you write the observation how could ever be anything other than missing?

data DateList;
  enddate= '30Sep2021'd;
  do i = -1 to -5 by -1;
    date=intnx('month',enddate,i,'e');
    output;
  end;
  keep date;
  format date DDMMYY10.;
run;

PS Why would you display dates in a style that will confuse 50% of the world?

Re: Why does this simple do function create a null in the first row

RikeshPunja — Thu, 02 Dec 2021 16:41:16 GMT

Thank you Tom, that has solved my question and feel slightly silly now.

I'm in the UK and we ready dates in this format so helps me whilst coding to see dates in this format to check the code is working appropriately.

Thank you again for your help!