data want;
set have(rename=(startdate=old_startdate));
startdate=input(old_startdate,yymmdd10.);
format startdate date9.;
run;
Your code is trying to convert a character variable to a numeric variable (date values are numeric variables) - that's a no-no. That's why @PaigeMiller renamed the character variable STARTDATE, freeing up the desired name STARTDATE to be generated as a numeric variable.
Use the RENAME statement.
data want;
set have;
startdate1=input(startdate,yymmdd10.);
format startdate1 date9.;
rename startdate=startdate_char startdate1=startdate;
run;
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