Question

Is there a way to test if a variable will fail the INPUT conversion process in SAS ? Or alternatively, if the resulting ‘NOTE: Invalid argument’ message can be avoided?

data _null_;   format test2 date9.;   input test ;   test2=INPUT(PUT(test,8.),yymmdd8.);   if _error_ =1 then do;       _error_=0;       test2=INPUT(PUT(test-1,8.),yymmdd8.);   end;   put test2=;   cards;   20270229   run;   

Answer 1

Just include ‘??’ before the format name. Your example has been modified below…

data null; format test2 date9.; input test ; test2=INPUT(PUT(test,8.),?? yymmdd8.); if error =1 then do; error=0; test2=INPUT(PUT(test-1,8.), ?? yymmdd8.); end; put test2=; cards; 20270229 run;