topic Re: SAS VIYA4 now() returns wrong time in SAS Visual Analytics

SAS VIYA4 now() returns wrong time

P3 — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 12:33:23 GMT

When using the function now() in SAS VIYA 4 (building a report and making a calculated item to determine something is in the past or the future) I see rows up to 1 hour in the past that still get seen as in the future. So now() is reporting a time that is 1 hour before the real current datetime.

Of course I immediately thought it had to do with DST or something like that.

When using Studio the datetime() function returns the correct system-datetime.

Jobs that produce the data and writes the CAS-tables also use the correct datetime.

All the servers used, are set to the right time (according to administrators).

I tried setting DST_Enabled to True in the Environment Manager, but that didn't do the trick. At least, an administrator did that for me, as I am not allowed to go there.

Any ideas on how I could get the now()-function to return the correct time?

Re: SAS VIYA4 now() returns wrong time

Kurt_Bremser — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 12:39:31 GMT

I see no entry for a NOW function in the SAS documentation.

So this is either an undocumented function (which should not be trusted), or something created with PROC FCMP at your site (go looking for the source code).

Re: SAS VIYA4 now() returns wrong time

PaigeMiller — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 13:21:50 GMT

In my SAS Viya 4, I get errors when I run the NOW() function.

Perhaps you want the TIME() function, or as @Kurt_Bremser someone has created that for all users using PROC FCMP. In that case, if the time is one hour off, that should be easy for you to adjust.

Re: SAS VIYA4 now() returns wrong time

Quentin — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 13:33:17 GMT

It looks like NOW() is a Visual Analytics function, not a SAS language function. I'm going to try moving this question the visual analytics community.

Re: SAS VIYA4 now() returns wrong time

Quentin — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 13:40:35 GMT

Apologies @Kurt_Bremser . When I moved this to visual analytics, I accidentally moved your reply first, so you're now the owner of the thread, instead of @P3 who asked the question. I don't see a way to make the original question the question again.

Re: SAS VIYA4 now() returns wrong time

HunterT_SAS — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 13:43:12 GMT

The Now() function in VA can be controlled by a JVM property timezone setting for the reportExecution service/pod described here:

https://go.documentation.sas.com/doc/en/vacdc/v_029/varef/p1t3sqzzeb69h1n1t52gw8nr73eb.htm

If this property is not defined for the service, then it defaults to the timezone of the report execution pod, which you could check with this kubectl command:

kubectl -n <namespace> exec <report execution pod name> -- date

where namespace and report execution pod name are the right values for your environment. I suspect though you just need to set the JVM property from the link above to your timezone and that should do the trick.

Re: SAS VIYA4 now() returns wrong time

P3 — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 08:53:52 GMT

Couldn't find the reportExecution configuration. But I just heard that we are running on VIYA 3.5. So maybe it is a newer option.

Re: SAS VIYA4 now() returns wrong time

HunterT_SAS — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 14:52:07 GMT

Oh yes Viya 3.5 is going to be a little different here. Are you (or the server technically) in the CEST timezone by any chance? If so there was a bug in Viya 3.5 where it is an hour off and you can workaround it following these steps:

Modify casconfig_usermods.lua on controller node,
•Edit this file: /opt/sas/viya/config/etc/cas/default/casconfig_usermods.lua
•Set this property: cas.TIMEZONE='Europe/Amsterdam'
•Restart CAS controller

Otherwise it should be pulling the time from the Viya 3.5 server itself (wherever CAS is running).

Re: SAS VIYA4 now() returns wrong time

P3 — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 13:46:42 GMT

That did the trick. Thanks so much!