Convert Character variable / string YYYYMM into a date

[gregor1]

I followed "Convert Character variable / string YYYYMM in date" solved discussion and entered the following code:

PROC SQL;

CREATE TABLE WORK.QUERY_FOR_COMBINED_PANDG_MONTHLY AS

SELECT /* interval */

(input(t1.yr_mnth !! "01",yymmdd8.)) FORMAT=YYMMDD8. LABEL="interval" AS interval

FROM PLCP.COMBINED_PANDG_MONTHLY_VOLUMES t1;

QUIT;

However, the results came back as dot (.).  Not sure what I did wrong.  Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Greg

[Tom · Accepted solution]

Either your variable is defined as longer than 6 characters, or it does not have full 6 digits.  Or perhaps it is a number instead of a string? In which case it will get converted using the BEST12 format and so have 6 leading spaces before the 6 digit number.

You could use the CATS() function to insure the trailing and/or leading spaces are removed.

input(cats(t1.yr_mnth,"01"),yymmdd8.)

[gregor1]

Thanks Tom, I just tried your code and it worked perfectly.  I appreciate your help and continue to learn.

Greg

[ho0421]

This is very helpful. Thanks.