Change quarterly format

[luciacossaro]

Hi, 

I have a beginner question.

I have two databases in quarterly data. In one of them the variable quarterly is in format $8. (ex: 1991Q1, 1991Q2, 1991Q3 etc) and in the other is in format DDMMYY10 (ex: 01/01/1996 is the first quarter, 01/04/1996 the second, etc).

I need both variables in the same format to make a Merge by the variable in quarterly.

I tried that but it did not work, i get the numbers such 13149, 13240 and i don't undestand why.

DATA IPCH_trim ;
set ipch_trim ;
format trim $8. ;
run ;

Can you help me to change the format please?. Ideally to change the variable in DDMMYY10  format to the format $8.

Thanks you very much

[Reeza · Accepted solution]

---

@luciacossaro wrote:

Hi, 

I have a beginner question.

I have two databases in quarterly data. In one of them the variable quarterly is in format $8. (ex: 1991Q1, 1991Q2, 1991Q3 etc) and in the other is in format DDMMYY10 (ex: 01/01/1996 is the first quarter, 01/04/1996 the second, etc).

I need both variables in the same format to make a Merge by the variable in quarterly.

I tried that but it did not work, i get the numbers such 13149, 13240 and i don't undestand why.

DATA IPCH_trim ;
set ipch_trim ;
format trim $8. ;
run ;

Can you help me to change the format please?. Ideally to change the variable in DDMMYY10  format to the format $8.

Thanks you very much

---

I would assume that you would convert it to the quarter but it would help if you showed what the variables look like. 

EIther way, use PUT to convert it to a character value, assuming a SAS date to start with:

new_value = put(date, yyq6.);

Play around with the second parameter to get what you want. Also, if you're joining via SQL you can do this on the fly.