Date:         Thu, 28 Feb 2002 09:42:49 -0700
Reply-To:     Jose Benuzillo <Jose.Benuzillo@nurs.utah.edu>
Sender:       "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <SPSSX-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Jose Benuzillo <Jose.Benuzillo@nurs.utah.edu>
Subject:      Re: Date Conversion
Comments: To: Mahbub_Khandoker@camh.net
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

here is an example.

original variable    start     it looks like this   Wed 05/10/2000 22:27:59       "string"


needed variable    date1  it will look like this    05/10/2000      "date"


syntax

compute mnthx  = number(substr(start,5,2),f2).
compute dayx   = number(substr(start,8,2),f2).
compute yrx     = number(substr(start,11,4),f4.0).
compute date1 = date.mdy(mnthx,dayx,yrx).
format date1 (adate10).


It tells the computer    1. to read two places from place five
                                    2. to save as numeric variable into mnthx.


same for dayx and yrx


then I used a time function ( date.mdy ) that requires three arguments month, day, and year to generate the variable date1
finally I give format to the variable.


you can use a diferent  date function.


Jose G Benuzillo.
University of Utah.








>>> Mahbub Khandoker <Mahbub_Khandoker@camh.net> 02/28/02 09:12AM >>>
Hello:
I have a data set with date as one of the variables. The date variable data
is pullout from Cognos Impromptu to Excel and then convert to SPSS. In SPSS
the date is treated as string and my first and simple question is, how can I
convert this string to date format?
The next question is, whether is it possible to select only the weekend
dates automatically by SPSS from this dates?
The data set are as follows,
Admission Date  Health Record Number
2001-03-01              087900
1990-07-27              458900
2001-02-16              895241
2001-03-09              448801
1998-09-30              890210
1999-12-31              754890

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Mahbub Khandoker