topic Re: How do I convert string HH:MM into time HH:MM format? in SAS Enterprise Guide

How do I convert string HH:MM into time HH:MM format?

KubiK888 — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 20:54:42 GMT

I have a column with HH:MM in a string format, I would like it to be converted into HHMw.d time format.

In EG, I go to Query Builder and advanced expression with "INPUT(t1.time_v2, HHMMw.)", it created a new variable but they are all missing (.).

Re: How do I convert string HH:MM into time HH:MM format?

collinelliot — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 21:20:28 GMT

Are you actually putting "w" as the length? That should actually be a number or potentially nothing. You're not getting any kind of note or error?

Re: How do I convert string HH:MM into time HH:MM format?

KubiK888 — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 21:25:54 GMT

I am not getting any error. But there is note: Invalid string for

234 t1.time_v2,
235 /* time_v3 */
236 (INPUT(t1.time_v2, HHMM.)) AS time_v3
237 FROM WORK.QUERY_FOR_UNDERSTANDI_0003 t1;

And with and without "w" doesn't make a difference, just create a new column with all empty value.

Re: How do I convert string HH:MM into time HH:MM format?

ballardw — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 21:26:38 GMT

Try TIME5. instead of HHMMw. if you only have hour and minutes.

HHMMw. is a display format, not an informat.

I would expect an error similar to this:

355  data junk;
356     time_v2 = "12:34";
357     tt =INPUT(time_v2, HHMM.);
                           -----
                           485
NOTE 485-185: Informat HHMM was not found or could not be loaded.

358  run;

Re: How do I convert string HH:MM into time HH:MM format?

Reeza — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 21:43:55 GMT

Are you sure it's a string format? Can you show a proc contents and a few values?

Re: How do I convert string HH:MM into time HH:MM format?

KubiK888 — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 22:31:31 GMT

Thanks, but it turns it into 5-digit number. For example "7:57" into 28620.

Re: How do I convert string HH:MM into time HH:MM format?

Reeza — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 22:43:06 GMT

@KubiK888 wrote:
Thanks, but it turns it into 5-digit number. For example "7:57" into 28620.

That's likely correct. Now you need to apply a format to it as well, TIME.

SAS stores times as the number of seconds and dates as the number of days.