Transforming Data with SAS Functions
Manipulating SAS Date Values with Functions

 

SAS Date and Time Values SAS software contains a variety of functions that enable you to work with SAS date values. SAS software stores a date value as the number of days from January 1, 1960, to a given date. For example, A SAS time value is stored as the number of seconds since midnight. For example, Consequently, a SAS datetime value is stored as the number of seconds between midnight on January 1, 1960, and a given date and time. For example, SAS software stores date values as numbers so you can easily sort the values or perform arithmetic computations. You can use SAS date values as you use any other numeric values. data test(keep=name totday); set hrd.temp; TotDay=enddate-begindate; run;

SAS Data Set Hrd.Temp

City	State	Zip	Phone	BeginDate	EndDate	PayRate	Days	Hours
CARY	NC	27513	6224549	14567	14621	10	11	88
CARY	NC	27513	6223251	14524	14565	8	25	200

You can display SAS date values in a variety of forms by associating a SAS format with the values. For example, the FORMAT statement below associates the DATE9. format with the variables BeginDate and EndDate. A portion of the output created by this PROC PRINT step appears below. proc print data=hrd.temp; format begindate enddate date9.; run;

City	State	Zip	Phone	BeginDate	EndDate	Pay Rate	Days	Hours
CARY	NC	27513	6224549	19NOV1999	12JAN2000	10	11	88
CARY	NC	27513	6223251	07OCT1999	17NOV1999	8	25	200
CHAPEL HILL	NC	27514	9974749	22NOV1999	30DEC1999	40	26	208
RALEIGH	NC	27612	6970450	29SEP1999	10OCT1999	15	10	80

SAS date values are valid for dates based on the Gregorian calendar from A.D. 1582 through A.D. 20,000.

Use caution when working with historical dates. The Gregorian calendar was used throughout most of Europe from 1582, but Great Britain and the American colonies did not adopt the calendar until 1752.