Format "dd-mm-yyyy" character date to numeric mmddyy10. format

[claremc]

Hi, 

I am trying to figure out how to format a character variable of a date that appears in the character format "8-Jun-2020" to a numeric mmddyy10 variable: "06/08/2020". I tried to use "substr" and "put", but the issue is that some dates appear as "22-Jun-2020", so the day part of the variable takes up 2 spaces instead of one (22 vs. 8).  

Things I've tried: 

data import;
set import;
birth_date_new = catx("-", put(birth_date, mmddyy10.)); 
run; 

AND 

data import; 
set import; 
birth_date_new= catx("-", substr(birth_date, 3,3),substr(birth_date, 1,1),substr(birth_date, 7,4)) OR
birth_date_new = catx("-", substr(birth_date,3,3), substr(birth_date,1,2), substr(birth_date,8,4));
format birth_date mmddyyyy10.; 
run;

Let me know if you can help, thanks! 

Clare 

[SASKiwi]

If your date variable is indeed character to start with this should work:

data test;
  date = '01-12-2020';
  date_new = input(date, ddmmyy10.);
  format date_new mmddyyd10.;
  put _all_;
run;

[Kurt_Bremser · Accepted solution]

Don't do this:

data import;
set import;

If something untoward happens in the data step, the dataset is destroyed and you need to re-create it. Sometimes this might mean you have to look for a backup.

Do this to convert your date value:

birth_date_new = input(birth_date,date11.); 
format birth_date_new mmddyy10.;

[claremc]

That worked! Thank you so much!