topic Re: Creating a data parameter in VA which dynamically updates with today's date in SAS Visual Analytics

Creating a data parameter in VA which dynamically updates with today's date

jlwatts — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 20:29:17 GMT

I am creating a report which have four global variables at the top of the page.

I can create a parameter with a hard coded default date, but I want it to update to be today's date by default.

I read about creating a calculated value, but can't figure out how to link the calculated value to populate the parameter.

I can't find any related articles on this site. Suggestions?

Re: Creating a data parameter in VA which dynamically updates with today's date

jlwatts — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 20:32:00 GMT

I should have posted that I am using VA 7.53

Re: Creating a data parameter in VA which dynamically updates with today's date

sbxkoenk — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 21:45:03 GMT

The Now() operator returns a datetime value so we must wrap the DatePart() operator around it to extract only the date value.

For this Now() operator wrapped into the DatePart() operator, see here:

Build a date in SAS Visual Analytics reports
https://communities.sas.com/t5/SAS-Communities-Library/Build-a-date-in-SAS-Visual-Analytics-reports/ta-p/760983
Tips and tricks when working with dates in SAS Visual Analytics
https://communities.sas.com/t5/SAS-Communities-Library/Tips-and-tricks-when-working-with-dates-in-SAS-Visual-Analytics/ta-p/939574
Using Date Parameters in your SAS Visual Analytics Reports
https://blogs.sas.com/content/sgf/2017/11/13/using-date-parameters-in-your-sas-visual-analytics-reports/

Cheers,
Koen

Re: Creating a data parameter in VA which dynamically updates with today's date

jlwatts — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 22:05:57 GMT

Thank you. I have created the data parameter and a calculated item of datepart( now() ). But I can not figure out how to populate the calculated values into the date parameter as the default value. That is my issue. I want the report to default the date parameter to today's date every time the report is opened.

Re: Creating a data parameter in VA which dynamically updates with today's date

FredrikE — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:02:08 GMT

Hi!

You can't do that in 7.53.

What you can do is that you add a drop down, sorted on descending date and then add the option for "select first...", that might help you.

I have used ranking to achieve similar functionality, but it is risky if all object does not have all dates...:)

//Fredrik

Re: Creating a data parameter in VA which dynamically updates with today's date

jlwatts — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:24:11 GMT

Thank you. I was afraid that was going to be the answer.

Re: Creating a data parameter in VA which dynamically updates with today's date

sbxkoenk — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:26:23 GMT

First Date? Last Date? There’s an operator for each in SAS Visual Anal... - SAS Support Communities

26-JUN-2017

Use the latest date in your VA report - SAS Support Communities

18-FEB-2019

Koen