Ed Heaton wrote:

>Okay, why doesn't > > x = input( "03150044" , mmddyy8. ) ; > >set X to missing? > > x = input( "01010100" , mmddyy8. ) ; > >sets X to missing and gives a note that the argument is invalid. >This I expect because SAS has no date before 1582. This I expect. >But why don't I get a similar result from > > x = input( "12310099" , mmddyy8. ) ; > >I know why not ... but why not? > >Ed > > Because the YEARCUTOFF option applies to two-digit years so you can never have 1st century dates. I suspect that data processors back then were struggling with the Y1C problem ;o) Seriously, if you need such early dates you can't use SAS dates because there is little agreement on "dates" before 1582 as you noticed. There is another method based on the Julian period which starts at the beginning of recorded history.

-- Rodney Sparapani Medical College of Wisconsin Sr. Biostatistician Patient Care & Outcomes Research rsparapa@mcw.edu http://www.mcw.edu/pcor Was 'Name That Tune' rigged? WWLD -- What Would Lombardi Do