Creating a User Defined Date/Time Format

[Heretic]

Thanks for the help guys.  You were both right.

Arthur,

I just re-read what you wrote and a section about Picture Formats and get it now.  No wizards for a user defined format.  Ran a modified version of the little program based on what you posted.  I selected the name of my format under user defined had a custom date / time.    Works fine.

Reeza,

You were right about the datetime18.  There is no need to change formats.  I was following the end user's instructions on how they accomplish their manual process and mimicked their format change.  It was an unnecessary step.  Excel, SAS, and Access all spoke the same date time language if you just left everything alone. 

Now I know how to program for a custom format and don’t need it.  My brain hurts.

[TomKari]

Way to go! Just a warning, the "brain hurts" condition is pretty much permanent one you dive deep into SAS. The product is phenomenal, can do pretty much anything, and usually six different ways. Enjoy!

One quick correction to your note. Enterprise Guide does create user defined formats, just not the type that use picture specifications.

  Tom

[art297]

  Is that why my brain always hurts?  I thought it was just a function of living too far north.

[Reeza]

I'll take a brain hurt for one day versus 2 weeks of manual work...in the long run you'll end up with more down time as you add more SAS tools to your brain