suppress invalid data warning message in log for null values

[Anna_dlC]

I'm reading in a fixed format text file.   For the field "Invalid_date_free" (column 368), it can be populated or a null value.  My question is -- can I read in the field with nulls allowed, in order to suppress those warning messages?

DATA free (drop=LastName dob PostalCode REC_TYPE db);

FORMAT SEQfree 9. HAS_free $1. free._FLAG $15. 

       BIRTHDATE DATETIME20.

       DOB /*Spouse_DOB*/ Inactive_Date_free Effective_Date_free YYMMDDn8.

       LINIT $2. LNAME LMATCH ACCT_free $20. PCODE $6.;

LENGTH DOB BIRTHDATE TRANSIT_free 8;

INFILE free  MISSOVER TRUNCOVER LRECL=410 ;

INPUT @001 REC_TYPE $2. @ ;

if rec_type in ('1','9') then delete;

else if rec_type = '5'

then do;

   INPUT @003 ClientNum_free           $8.

         @011 CifNumber                15.

         @026 FirstName               $23.

         @049 MidName                 $23.

         @072 LastName                $23.

         @095 DB                      $8.  @;

if    DB > 18000000 and DB < 21000000

then  DOB = input(DB, YYMMDD8.);

else  DOB = .;

INPUT @103 Gender                   $1.

      @104 Spouse_FirstName        $23.

      @127 Spouse_MidName          $23.

      @150 Spouse_LastName         $23.

/*      @173 Spouse_DOB              YYMMDD8.*/

      @181 Spouse_Gender            $1.

      @182 Address1                $40.

      @222 Address2                $40.

      @262 City                    $35.

      @297 StateProvince            $2.

      @299 PostalCode               $6.

      @305 Language                 $1.

      @306 PhoneNumber             $10.

      @316 PolicyNum_free           $8.

      @324 LocationNum              $8.

      @332 BankKey                  $8.

      @335 TRANSIT_free              5.

      @340 ACCT_free               $20.

      @360 Effective_Date_free YYMMDD8.

      @368 Inactive_Date_free  YYMMDD8.

      @376 Channel                  $2.

      @378 BillDay                   2.

      @380 SUM_INS_free              9.

      @389 SUM_INS_SPOUSE_free       9.

      @398 PREM_free                 6.

      @404 Deceased                 $1.

      @405 free.LetterType           1.

      @406 INACTIVE_free            $1.

      ;

   SEQfree  + 1;

   if inactive_free. = 'N' then HAS_free. = 'Y';

   if inactive_free. = 'N' then            

        free._flag = "ACTIVE" ;

   else if inactive_Date_free >= "&bmth12"d then

        free._flag = "INACTIVE_12m";

   else free._flag = "INACTIVE_12_24m";

end;

else delete;

run;

[Kurt_Bremser]

As long as you have valid SAS missing values there, no problem:

filename flatfile temp;

data _null_;
file flatfile;
put '20180709';
put '        ';
put '.       ';
run;

data test;
infile flatfile;
input testdate yymmdd8.;
format testdate yymmddn8.;
run;

If you have anything else, I recommend reading into a string and then do a conditional conversion.

eg we have to read dates from DB/2, where a missing value will be a blank, and a "default" value will be 0001-01-01:

data want;
infile in;
input _mydate $10.;
if _mydate in ('0001-01-01',' ')
then mydate = .;
else mydate = input(_mydate,yymmdd10.);
format mydate yymmddd10.;
drop _mydate;
run;

[Astounding · Accepted solution]

It's easy.  But remember, this now suppresses ALL messages about invalid data for that field.  A simple change:

@368 Inactive_Date_free  ?? YYMMDD8.

[Anna_dlC]

I'm ok with suppressing the messages.  This is a long-running campaign that's pretty consistent across the board but the null values are due to a recent change in the requirements.

Thanks!

[Kurt_Bremser]

Since you have other "tripwires" (ie numeric data) after this field, even the "total warning suppressor" ?? will not prevent you from detecting a structural change in the file, so you should be good.