topic Re: Date formats in SAS Enterprise Guide

Using date formats to group observations in PROC MEANS

N_C — Wed, 08 Feb 2017 13:38:26 GMT

Hi, I've formatted my dates to display at MONYY7. (Aug2016) . I expected the data to group together when I ran a proc means sum and grouped be the formatted variable but it doesn't. Is there a way to make it do so please?

Re: Date formats

RW9 — Wed, 08 Feb 2017 11:51:08 GMT

You have used the word which answers your own question:

"I've formatted my dates to display at MONYY7. (Aug2016)"

Formats merely display the underlying data differently, they do not change the underlying data. Hence you will still see the actual value of the data is number of days since a certain date (i.e. a SAS numeric date value), which is used when grouping.

As you haven't shown any test data or code, can I assume you have put the format statement in your means code - that might work. If not just put your data to a character variable as month year value, and then group on that.

Re: Date formats

Kurt_Bremser — Wed, 08 Feb 2017 12:01:44 GMT

Instead of by, try to use class for your date variable, and the proper format.

Re: Date formats

N_C — Wed, 08 Feb 2017 13:15:50 GMT

Thanks. Does exactly what I wanted now.