Date:         Fri, 26 Aug 2005 08:22:59 -0700
Reply-To:     Daniel Nordlund <res90sx5@VERIZON.NET>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Daniel Nordlund <res90sx5@VERIZON.NET>
Subject:      Re: Cant read a Datetime using Datetime Format
Comments: To: Peter Crawford <peter1.crawford@CITIGROUP.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <200508261300.j7QD0036014886@listserv.cc.uga.edu>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

> -----Original Message-----
> From: SAS(r) Discussion [mailto:SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of Peter
> Crawford
> Sent: Friday, August 26, 2005 6:00 AM
> To: SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject: Re: Cant read a Datetime using Datetime Format
>
> On Fri, 26 Aug 2005 01:45:49 -0700, RolandRB <rolandberry@HOTMAIL.COM>
> wrote:
>
> >tobyrathgeb@stanford.edu wrote:
> >> Hi
> >>
> >> I have a datetime in my raw (ASCII) file:
> >>
> >> 12/16/2004 9:10:31
> >>
> >> but cant read it with "datetime19." format in the input statement of my
> >> datastep. I saw that this format needs a 10NOV2004:18:59:59 layout of
> >> raw data, however "date." and "time." separately accept parts of my raw
> >> string. Can it be that this is again a limit in versatility of the sas
> >> language giving me the impression that it was developed without a
> >> systematic approach that usually guides a programming language.
> >>
> >> I appreciate your comments.
> >>
> >> Toby
> >
>
> Toby
>
> are you sure that should be 19. or 18. ?
> It's difficult to agree your comments without evidence.
>
> Perhaps the parsing of the data cell isn't as straightforward.
>
> Anyway, in sas9 try informat anydtdtm. For example:
>
> data to_toby;
>   input toby_time ;
>   put _infile $30. (_all_)(=);
>   attrib toby_time informat= anydtdtm. format= datetime. ;
> cards;
> 10NOV2004:18:59:59
> 10NOV2004:18:59:59.999
> 8/26/5:13:50:21.12
> 26-Aug-2005:13:38
> 26/8/2005-13:49:25
> 26/8/05-13:49:25              toby_time=05AUG26:13:49:25
> ;
>
> On my system it seems to work, according to this log
>
> 1567  data to_toby;
> 1568    input toby_time;
> 1569    put _infile_ $30. (_all_)(=) ;
> 1570    attrib toby_time informat= anydtdtm. format= datetime. ;
> 1571  cards;
>
> 10NOV2004:18:59:59            toby_time=10NOV04:18:59:59
> 10NOV2004:18:59:59.999        toby_time=10NOV04:19:00:00
> 8/26/5:13:50:21.12            toby_time=26AUG05:13:50:21
> 26-Aug-2005:13:38             toby_time=26AUG05:13:38:00
> 26/8/2005-13:49:25            toby_time=26AUG05:13:49:25
> 26/8/05-13:49:25              toby_time=05AUG26:13:49:25
> NOTE: The data set WORK.TO_TOBY has 6 observations and 1 variables.
>
>
> If you don't like that last result, then remember to use y2k compliant
> years.
>
>
> Peter Crawford
>
> As I learn more of SAS, I also learn respect for how much
> of SAS I still don't know !

The example "datetime" that Toby gave has a blank in it, which is going to cause problems on input and will need to be worked around.

Dan Nordlund
Bothell, WA