Need to convert character to date format MM/DD/YYYY

[xliu1]

I need to convert a character column to the date format

The format I am looking for is 05/04/1995

Here are my sas code:

data degree;
set prod.shrdgmr;
grad_term=input(substr(SHRDGMR_GRAD_DATE, 1,10), mmddyy10.);
keep shrdgmr_pidm SHRDGMR_GRAD_DATE grad_term;
where shrdgmr_pidm=14921;
run;

but the output for created column grad_term is blank

Any idea how I should change the code? Thanks!!

[ballardw · Accepted solution]

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@xliu1 wrote:

I need to convert a character column to the date format

The format I am looking for is 05/04/1995

Here are my sas code:

data degree;
set prod.shrdgmr;
grad_term=input(substr(SHRDGMR_GRAD_DATE, 1,10), mmddyy10.);
keep shrdgmr_pidm SHRDGMR_GRAD_DATE grad_term;
where shrdgmr_pidm=14921;
run;

but the output for created column grad_term is blank

Any idea how I should change the code? Thanks!!

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Why are  you attempting to read a date that starts with the year using an Informat that starts with month????

Did you read the log with all the invalid data messages??

Try

grad_term=input(SHRDGMR_GRAD_DATE,yymmdd10.);
format gradterm mmddyy10.;

The Informat length of 10 says to only read the first 10 characters so the substr isn't needed. The correct Informat is.

[xliu1]

Thanks for your response. This works out.