https://communities.sas.com/t5/SAS-Procedures/PROC-IMPORT/m-p/65896#M18791 It would help us understand the problem if you could post your SAS code. <BR /> <BR /> You may try using the statement MIXED=YES in your proc import procedure. Wed, 26 Jan 2011 14:22:01 GMT NickR 2011-01-26T14:22:01Z https://communities.sas.com/t5/SAS-Procedures/PROC-IMPORT/m-p/65895#M18790 I HAVE A DATASET IN EXCEL. I HAVE 3 VARIABLES. ALL ARE IN DATE FORMAT. I USED PROC IMPORT TO READ THE FILE INTO SAS. ONE OF THE COLUMNS COMES UP BLANK IN SAS, WHILST IN EXCEL THE CELLS ARE NOT EMPTY. I TRIED TO USE FORMAT mmddyy10. AND I GOT A MESSAGE SAYING VARIABLE HAS BEEN DEFINED AS BOTH CHARACTER AND NUMERIC. HOW CAN I RECTIFY ALL THESE. Wed, 26 Jan 2011 13:57:05 GMT https://communities.sas.com/t5/SAS-Procedures/PROC-IMPORT/m-p/65895#M18790 Statsconsultancy 2011-01-26T13:57:05Z https://communities.sas.com/t5/SAS-Procedures/PROC-IMPORT/m-p/65896#M18791 It would help us understand the problem if you could post your SAS code. <BR /> <BR /> You may try using the statement MIXED=YES in your proc import procedure. Wed, 26 Jan 2011 14:22:01 GMT https://communities.sas.com/t5/SAS-Procedures/PROC-IMPORT/m-p/65896#M18791 NickR 2011-01-26T14:22:01Z