The INFORMAT Clarification

[NikhilKashyap]

data dates;

infile datalines;

input State $ Date;

if State='AP' then do;

informat Date ddmmyy10.;

end;

else if State='MP' then do;

informat Date date9.;

end;

datalines;

AP 12/12/2015

AP 13/01/2014

MP 12Dec2015

MP 13Dec2014

;

run;

When I execute the above code snippet, its only accessing the latest loop & showing the o/p.I am unable to see the date formats as desired for both the conditions. May I know where the mistake lies?

[stat_sas · Accepted solution]

Use anydtdte informat for both condistions.

data dates;

infile datalines;

input State $ Date :anydtdte.;

format date date9.;

datalines;

AP 12/12/2015

AP 13/01/2014

MP 12Dec2015

MP 13Dec2014

;

run;

[KachiM]

INFORMAT is a COMPILE TIME Statement. Hence, originally it was ddmmyy10 but later it is changed to DATE9. . At the EXECUTION TIME, the real INFORMAT is the one that came last namely, DATE9.

Check the CONTENTS of the dates data set:

proc contents data = dates;

run;

and see the inforamat with date9.

[KachiM]

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