ordering dates in PROC REPORT

[tmtemples]

Hi!  I am trying to learn PROC REPORT and am having difficulty getting my dates to print in the correct order.  Here's my code:

PROC REPORT DATA = CAUTI_2016 NOWINDOWS ;
   COLUMN DATE LOCATION, (CAUTI DRAIN_DAYS) ;
   DEFINE DATE / GROUP ;
   DEFINE LOCATION / ACROSS ;
RUN ;

DATE is currently formatted as MONYY5.

My output looks like this:

DATE  CAUTI  DRAIN_DAYS

APR16        0                198

AUG16        2                222

FEB16         0                235

JAN16          0                178

How can I get it to print in the correct order?

Thank you!

[ballardw · Accepted solution]

The first question with date type data is "Is your value actually a SAS date valued variable or character?".

Proc contents or examine data set columns to confirm which.

You may need to set ORDER=Internal ind the define statement (if SAS Date value)

If the value is not a SAS date value then you will be stuck with character sort orders and won't work mostly. So you would want to add a SAS date valued variable and use that with appropriate format and order.

[tmtemples]

ORDER = INTERNAL  worked!

Thank you!