Date value missing in raw data

[sridharpolina]

I am trying to import data from an excel file with the following format which as some date values missing. can you say how SAS will interpret these missing date values and display them. and is there any other ways to import this file. using university SAS studio.

Name Salary Date of joining

Rob 25680 12/02/2012

Steve 35875 5/17/2010

John 26990    

Joe 39995 2/22/2006

Thanks

[HB]

With the XLSX file of

Name	Salary	date_of_joining
Rob	25680	12/2/2012
Steve	35875	5/17/2010
John	26990
Joe	39995	2/22/2006

I get a SAS file of

Name	Salary	date_of_joining
Rob	25680	2-Dec-12
Steve	35875	17-May-10
John	26990	.
Joe	39995	22-Feb-06

[ballardw · Accepted solution]

There should be a task to import data. If it has XLSX or XLS as a file type to import should be able to import.

SAS will set your blank values to missing. This will most likely appear as period when you look at tables. If you get blanks instead then something inhibited SAS from setting the proper date valued numeric variable type. This could happen if the first rows are all missing the value which would make SAS believe the variable is character.

If you do not see XLSX as an acceptable file type (meaning your license may not access to Excel) then save the file as CSV from Excel and import that file.

[sridharpolina]

I was wondering how SAS interprets the missing data. Thanks for the clarification.