Why isn't my variable converting to sas date format?

[christinagting0]

I have a character variable that I am trying to convert to SAS date format (mmddyy10.)

This is the code I am using:

data anzio_dados_fa;
	set anzio_dados_fa 

	(rename=(DISCHARGE_DOC=DISCHARGE_DOCNUM));
	DISCHARGE_DOC = input(DISCHARGE_DOCNUM, mmddyy10.);
	drop DISCHARGE_DOCNUM;

run;

However, when I do a proc contents and look at my variable, it seems to have only converted it to a number variable now. When I look at the "format" and "informat" columns after doing a PROC CONTENTS, these columns for my variable are just blank.

How do I convert my variable to a date format? What am I doing wrong in my above code?

Thanks in advance

[ballardw]

It may help to show those actual Proc Contents results.

also if you want the result to LOOK like a date like 10/16/2016 instead of 27123 you need to assign a format:

format Discharge_doc mmddyy10.;

SAS does not automatically assign an informat just because you use a date informat in an input function unlike and INPUT statement with a format option.