Add Date Field mmddyy8. to dataset and update from Char Date field

[Kody_devl]

I have a dataset with a character date field (Source_Date Char(35)) with data in this format, "mmddyy" (no slashes) .  I want to:

1.  Add a new date field,  "Source_Date_dte mmddyy8."

2.  Update the new Source_Date_dte field with the date value from the Source_Date.

For Example:               New field value

060116-------------------> 06/01/16

Here is my code attempt:

data ALL_MONTHS_LOAN_DETAIL_new;

set ALL_MONTHS_LOAN_DETAIL;

Source_Date_dte=input(Source_Date, 6.);

format Source_Date_dte mmddyy8.;

run:

This code produces a new field Source_Date_dte Character 15 with format $MDDYY10 and no data populated in the new field.

Help Please

[Reeza]

Use the appropriate date informat. In your input function try mmddyy6. as the informat rather than 6. 

[Kody_devl · Accepted solution]

Perfect!

Thank you!

[Astounding]

Your statement would always create a numeric variable (even if you need to adjust it according to Reeza's suggestion, the same applies).  If you are getting a character variable as the result, it is because SOURCE_DATE_DTE already exists (as a character variable) within the incoming data set ALL_MONTH_LOANS_DETAIL.  It should be dropped from the input.