set new variable to missing if time vaue in a character string is missing

[jenim514]

Hi!

I have a messy time date variable in a character string.

the orignal values look like this...

Inc

291900MAR07

142300APR07

03APR07

10APR07

I'm creating two  separate variables (date_var time_var) from the original variable (inc)  In the values with the longer string the first two numbers are actually the day, and the 3-6 is the time.  Many of the values do not have a time entered.  What I want to do is have the time variables set to missing if the time is missing.

So, to create the date_var I did this (and it worked fine)

data want ;
set have (keep=rescuereportid inc);
inc=compress(inc);

date_var=substr(inc,1,2)||substr(inc,max(1,length(inc)-4));
run;

How can I create a time variable with variables that are different in length (i don't want to write over values that have existing time vlaues)?  Want to look like this....

Orig_Var	Date_Var	Time_Var
291900MAR07	29MAR07	1900
142300APR07	14APR07	2300
03APR07	03APR07	.
10APR07	10APR07	.

Help is appreciated!

[Reeza · Accepted solution]

Use the LENGTH function to check the length and then conditionally process the variables.

if length(var) = 10 then do;
time= <your code>;
date=<your code>;
end;
else if length(var)=9 then do;
time=.;
date=.input(.... );
end;

[HB]

That exactly what I was going to suggest. Pout. Lol.

[Reeza]

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@HB wrote:
That exactly what I was going to suggest. Pout. Lol.

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@HB yeah...I should really log off and go work 🙂

[jenim514]

@Reeza NO! don't log off and work! Then I wouldn't be able to work!! lol

[Reeza]

@jenim514 aren't you in Ottawa, you only have a little bit left.

[jenim514]

@Reeza No, in San Diego... only half way through the day!