topic Re: Convert month number to name in SAS Procedures

Convert month number to name

SKP — Sat, 06 Aug 2016 04:16:39 GMT

Hi,

I'm tyring to conver month number (e.g. 1,2,3) to name (e.g. JAN, FEB, MAR) in a field "Month" which is character field.

I tried below code;

Proc Format;

INVALUE Month '1'='JAN', '2'='FEB','3'='MAR',

Run;

But it got errored out and error says that 'JAN' was not acceptable format. I'm not sure what that means....

Does anyone how to fix this or know a batter to do?

Thanks,

SKP

Re: Convert month number to name

RahulG — Sat, 06 Aug 2016 04:46:20 GMT

You can try using format monname3.

data _null_;
format a monname3.;
a=today();
put a=;
run;

Re: Convert month number to name

Reeza — Sat, 06 Aug 2016 04:50:23 GMT

There's no commas between the list of values. I also wouldn't recommend using the name month as its a function.

If you convert it to a SAS date you can use MONNAME format.

Proc format;
InValue $ monthFmt
'1' = 'Jan'
'2' = 'Feb'
...
;

Perhaps if you explain how you plan to use it we can suggest more efficient methods.

Re: Convert month number to name

SKP — Sat, 06 Aug 2016 05:09:15 GMT

Thank you for your reply.

It did not work.

Where do you specify the dataset name?

I changed the field to "purchase_month", and had below.

Proc Format;

InValue $ purchase_monthFmt

'1' = 'JAN'

'2' = 'FEB'

'3' = 'MAR';

Run;

Did i have anything incorrect?

Re: Convert month number to name

SKP — Sat, 06 Aug 2016 05:11:21 GMT

Thank you for your reply.

I tried below and it returned as 'AUG' only. I guess that's today's month....

Can you let me know where I can specify the dataset and field name?

Re: Convert month number to name

Reeza — Sat, 06 Aug 2016 05:15:35 GMT

The format is MONNAME. Apply it the same way you were planning to use your custom format. It will only work of you have a full SAS date, numeric with a date format not a character or number 1/2/3.

Re: Convert month number to name

SKP — Sat, 06 Aug 2016 05:57:30 GMT

Thank you for your reply. I understand that I should have SAS date field to use the MONNAME function, but still couldn't get what I need.

Let me clarify what I'm doing again.

In a data set "test", I have a date filed "purchase_date" which has date in MM/DD/YYYY format. I wanted to add new field "purchase_month" in month name format (JAN, FEB etc) based on "purchase_date".

Right now, I did not know MONNAME function, thus I pulled month as numeric from "purchase_date" and tried to conver it to name. But it sounds I should be able to pull month name (JAN, FEB) from "purchase_date".

Can you please let me know once again how I can do that with MONNAME function?

Thank you.

Re: Convert month number to name

RahulG — Sat, 06 Aug 2016 05:58:38 GMT

You are using Invalue keyword that will create informat.

What I understand with your question that you want to convert 1 to Jan which can be done using format. Be sure what do you want Format or Informat.

Another point is you are considering 1 as character in your code. Ensure that your input varaible where you are applying format is charcter type

Proc Format;
Value $ purchase_monthFmt
'1' = 'JAN'
'2' = 'FEB'
'3' = 'MAR';
Run;

Re: Convert month number to name

Reeza — Sat, 06 Aug 2016 06:07:01 GMT

Since you want a new variable, create a new variable identical to the date and apply format.

Data Step

Month = purchase_date;

format month MONNAME.;

SQL

purchase_date as month format=MONNAME.

Or convert to character month.

Month=put(purchase_date, monname3.);

Re: Convert month number to name

SKP — Sat, 06 Aug 2016 06:12:31 GMT

It seems it ran but nothing returned.

In Log Summary, it says Format $PURCHASE_MONTH has been output.

But I would like to overwite it in the same dataset in purchase_month filed where I have 1,2,3 etc.

Is there other code I need to have?

Thank you.

Re: Convert month number to name

SKP — Sat, 06 Aug 2016 06:26:56 GMT

I think I'm getting, but it's not quit working yet.

I tried your 1st code as

data newdataset;

purchse_month=purchse_date

format purchse_month MONNAME3.;

set olddataset;

Run;

Then, I have . in the 1st cell and everything god shifted down by 1 row.

Do you know why it got shifted?

Thanks.

Re: Convert month number to name

Reeza — Sat, 06 Aug 2016 06:33:38 GMT

Put SET statement before you try to use the variables 😉

Your trying to to use it before it exists.

Re: Convert month number to name

SKP — Sat, 06 Aug 2016 06:44:39 GMT

It worked!!!!!!

Thank you very much for your help!!!!

And thank you for teaching me all other codes, as well. I haven't tested all those yet, but will test them later to learn new codes.

SKP