Creating a data parameter in VA which dynamically updates with today's date

[jlwatts]

I am creating a report which have four global variables at the top of the page.

I can create a parameter with a hard coded default date, but I want it to update to be today's date by default.

I read about creating a calculated value, but can't figure out how to link the calculated value to populate the parameter.

I can't find any related articles on this site.  Suggestions?

[jlwatts]

I should have posted that I am using VA 7.53

[sbxkoenk]

The Now() operator returns a datetime value so we must wrap the DatePart() operator around it to extract only the date value.

For this Now() operator wrapped into the DatePart() operator, see here:

• Build a date in SAS Visual Analytics reports
  https://communities.sas.com/t5/SAS-Communities-Library/Build-a-date-in-SAS-Visual-Analytics-reports/...
• Tips and tricks when working with dates in SAS Visual Analytics
  https://communities.sas.com/t5/SAS-Communities-Library/Tips-and-tricks-when-working-with-dates-in-SA...
• Using Date Parameters in your SAS Visual Analytics Reports
  https://blogs.sas.com/content/sgf/2017/11/13/using-date-parameters-in-your-sas-visual-analytics-repo...

Cheers,
Koen

[jlwatts]

Thank you. I have created the data parameter and a calculated item of datepart( now() ). But I can not figure out how to populate the calculated values into the date parameter as the default value. That is my issue. I want the report to default the date parameter to today's date every time the report is opened.

[FredrikE · Accepted solution]

Hi!

You can't do that in 7.53.

What you can do is that you add a drop down, sorted on descending date and then add the option for "select first...", that might help you.

I have used ranking to achieve similar functionality, but it is risky if all object does not have all dates...:)

//Fredrik

[jlwatts]

Thank you. I was afraid that was going to be the answer.

[sbxkoenk]

First Date? Last Date? There’s an operator for each in SAS Visual Anal... - SAS Support Communities

26-JUN-2017

Use the latest date in your VA report - SAS Support Communities

18-FEB-2019

Koen