Delete observations between two dates and override dataset

[jeremy4]

Hi,

I am looking to override an existing dataset ("test"), which deletes observations where the variable "YEAR_MONTH" is in the month of September 2018. Would it be possible to edit my code as the "delete" part of my code is not in blue text when I input my code, so there may be an issue? 

Code

data test;
   set test;
   if '01Sep2018'd <= input(YEAR_MONTH,yymmn6.) <= '30Sep2018'd then delete;
run;

[Jagadishkatam]

Alternately use if not instead of delete

data test;
   set test;
   if not ('01Sep2018'd <= input(YEAR_MONTH,yymmn6.) <= '30Sep2018'd);
run;

[novinosrin]

Why reference the same dataset recursively. @ballardw  once taught me never do that. The sage's advice has been well taken. Please use

Proc sql;

delete from table

where......................

quit;

[hashman]

@jeremy4:

First, as @novinosrin has said, there's no need to rewrite the entire file.  Second, since you year_month variable is character in YYYYMM pattern, there's no need to convert it to a SAS date value. Just create a view like either of the two below:

data vtest / view = vtest ;                                             
  set have (where = (year_month ne "201809")) ;                         
run ;                                                                   
                                                                        
proc sql ;                                                              
  create view vtest as select * from have where year_month ne "201809" ;
quit ;                                                                  

Then reference VTEST instead of TEST in your code downstream where the subset is needed.

Kind regards

Paul D.