Convert to SAS date in character variable

[David_Billa]

I've a variable (Test) values as follows. It's a character variable. I want to convert only the value 21183 to 30DEC2017 and still it should be a character variable.

Data As is:

Test

21183-23-TUSE-GHU

Data To be:

Test

30DEC2017-23-TUSE-GHU

[Kurt_Bremser]

data test;
length test $100;
test = "21183-23-TUSE-GHU";
index = indexc(test,'-');
test = put(input(substr(test,1,index-1),5.),date9.) !! substr(test,index);
drop index;
run;

Ask yourself if it wouldn't be better to use YYMMDDD10. instead of DATE9.

[PeterClemmensen]

One way

data _null_;
    a='21183-23-TUSE-GHU';
    b=cats(put(input(scan(a, 1, '-'), 8.), date9.), substr(a, indexc(a,'-')));
    put b=;
ruN;

[ballardw]

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@David_Billa wrote:

I've a variable (Test) values as follows. It's a character variable. I want to convert only the value 21183 to 30DEC2017 and still it should be a character variable.

Data As is:

Test

21183-23-TUSE-GHU

Data To be:

Test

30DEC2017-23-TUSE-GHU

---

Where did the 21183 come from in the first place? If you created that value then show use how as that would be the place to do create the correct value to begin with.

BTW replacing 5 characters with 9 in the same variable may not be desired as you may exceed the current defined length of the variable and have truncation as a result.