topic Re: data step in SAS Programming

Convert date format in a character variable

knveraraju91 — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 08:14:49 GMT

Hi I have a question in my code;

I have date values in character format;

Exp: Date 2015-09-25

I need to convert the date into 2015/09/25 which is in character format.

My code:

date1=input(date,yymmdd10.);
format date yymmdds10.;

But the code resulted in value numeric format. I need the value in chracter format. 2015/09/25. Please help.

Thank you

Re: data step

PGStats — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 04:41:30 GMT

date = translate(date,"/","-");

Re: data step

LinusH — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 05:59:45 GMT

Why do need it in char? Storing dates as numerical is much more flexible. There are tons of date functions available to you, and you could change the date format at blink of a second - no ned to rewrite to do conversion.

Re: data step

RW9 — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 09:26:18 GMT

There is actually two instances where you might want character dates - ISO dates for instance are character. The other is for display purposes, most times put to format is fine, but sometimes you may want additional information for report purposes.

But I totally agree with you, unless there is a very good reason there is no reason to not use numeric date or time variables as they are far easier to use. I suspect he is trying to put these in macro list or something similar (in which case don't).

Re: Convert date format in a character variable

jklaverstijn — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 11:17:10 GMT

You can use the inverse of INPUT, PUT:

date2=put(date1, yymmdds10.);

I refrain from disputing your expressed need for this. I think it is out of order until you have been asked questions on the matter, which has not happened. And I won't.

Hope this helps,

-Jan.

Re: Convert date format in a character variable

knveraraju91 — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 18:39:30 GMT

Hi all,,

Thank you very much. Both codes are working for me as I am validating a dataset using proc compare. Thank yoiu.