convert a string to a date value

[GreggB]

sample data for dob:

12201999

01142000

10091998

Code I tried:

dobm=substr(dob,1,2);
dobd=substr(dob,3,2);
doby=substr(dob,5,4);
dobchar=compress(dobm||'/'||dobd||'/'||doby);
dobnum=input(strip(dobchar),mmddyy10.);
run;

ERROR:

NOTE: Invalid argument to function INPUT at line 622 column 8.
WARNING: Limit set by ERRORS= option reached. Further errors of this type will not be printed.

[Astounding · Accepted solution]

It's not clear whether your original DOB variable is numeric or character.

If it's character:

dobnum = input(dob, mmddyy8.);

format dobnum yymmdd10.;    /* or whatever format you prefer */

If it's numeric:

dobunum = input( put(dob,z8.), mmddyy8.);

format dobnum yymmdd10.;   /* or whatever format you prefer */

[Shmuel]

@Astounding, dob is a string according to the subject and to the use of substr.