topic Re: convert datetimes to another time zone in SAS Programming

convert datetimes to another time zone

gzr2mz39 — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 18:51:13 GMT

I have a variable with the following three observations in datetime format.
'11OCT2010:10:28:47'
'17OCT2010:12:21:47'
'27OCT2010:16:14:47'
These date times are in UTC (coordinated universal time). I would like to convert them to PST (pacific standard).
Does SAS have a tool for converting date time values to other time zones?

Re: convert datetimes to another time zone

sbb — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 19:10:54 GMT

No specific "tool" - you need only use some data condition to test (revealing the time-zone), and then use a DATA step (or PROC SQL) programming technique to adjust (either increment or decrement) the SAS DATETIME variable value.

One example using a SAS assignment statement within a DATA step:

data _null_;
format UTC_DT Local_DT DATETIME21. ;
UTC_DT = datetime(); /* assign current SAS datetime var */
if () then TimeZoneOffset = -"5:00:00"t;
else if () then TimeZoneOffset = -"6:00:00"t;
else do;
* unknown condition code - abort maybe? ;
end;
Local_DT = SUM(UTC_DT,TimeZoneOffset);
putlog _all_;
run;

Scott Barry
SBBWorks, Inc.

Suggested Google advanced search argument, this topic / post:

date datetime variables site:sas.com

Re: convert datetimes to another time zone

ArtC — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 19:57:38 GMT

Under Windows and Unix there is the TZ environment variable that might prove to be useful. Take a look at:
http://www.lexjansen.com/pharmasug/2010/sas/sas-tt-sas01.pdf