how to convert date in a macro into character

[dyxdyx]

I am trying to convert the date variable in a macro into a character variable called "label".

%let date=%qsysfunc(intnx(month, '31Oct2017'd, 2));

But the following gives errors. Any idea how to achieve this?

%let label=%sysfunc(put(&date, date9.));

ERROR: The PUT function referenced in the %SYSFUNC or %QSYSFUNC macro function is not found.

[Astounding]

%SYSFUNC cannot be used with PUT.  You have to switch to PUTN (in this case) or PUTC (in some cases) instead.

[Kurt_Bremser · Accepted solution]

The put() function is one of those that are not available in %sysfunc and %qsysfunc.

See here: http://documentation.sas.com/?cdcId=pgmsascdc&cdcVersion=9.4_3.2&docsetId=mcrolref&docsetTarget=p1o1...

Use the putn() function instead:

%let date=%sysfunc(intnx(month, '31Oct2017'd, 2));

%let label=%sysfunc(putn(&date,date9.));
%put &label;

or do it in one step:

%let label=%sysfunc(intnx(month, '31Oct2017'd, 2),date9.);

%put &label;