topic Re: How to combine three columns to one date variable and keep all my observations? in SAS Procedures

How to combine three columns to one date variable and keep all my observations?

kimmialex — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 17:00:43 GMT

I used this code, but I have over 8,000 observations. When I use this code, I only see my first three observations. I am sure there is an easier code without putting each dataline in. Thanks for the help

data deaths;
input year day month;
format new ddmmyy8.;
new=mdy(month,day,year);
datalines;
1999 1 1
1999 1 2

1999 1 3
;
run;

Re: How to combine three columns to one date variable and keep all my observations?

ballardw — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 17:09:22 GMT

I don't see anything combining "three columns" so it appears that you have skipped a bunch of step, like how you combined, what on, what your start looks like and what you expect the result to look like.

If you mean "create a date variable" from month, day and year variable you have the right function (likely) but you don't show the use of any existing data set which would go on a set statement such as:

data newdataset;
   set existingdatasetname;
   format new ddmmyy8.;
   /* assuming the data set on the SET statement 
     has numeric variables named month, day and year
     and year is 4 digits*/
   new=mdy(month,day,year);
run;

If "deaths" was the name of your data set you have replaced it and need to re-create it.

Re: How to combine three columns to one date variable and keep all my observations?

Reeza — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 17:10:51 GMT

data new;
set oldDataSet;

newDate = mdy(month, day, year);
format newDate ddmmyy8.;

run;

Assuming you already have a data set with the day, month, year referencing it with a SET statement instead is what you want to do.

@kimmialex wrote:

I used this code, but I have over 8,000 observations. When I use this code, I only see my first three observations. I am sure there is an easier code without putting each dataline in. Thanks for the help

data deaths;
input year day month;
format new ddmmyy8.;
new=mdy(month,day,year);
datalines;
1999 1 1
1999 1 2

1999 1 3
;
run;