=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 12 Jul 2006 10:58:59 -0400
Reply-To:     Edward Boadi <eboadi@abhct.com>
Sender:       "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <SPSSX-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Edward Boadi <eboadi@abhct.com>
Subject:      Re: Transforming date variables
Comments: To: "[Ela Bonbevan]" <bonbevan@AOL.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Try This:

Compute Var_Year  = number(substr(Date_var,1,4)).
Compute Var_Month = number(substr(Date_var,5,2)).
Compute Var_Day   = number(substr(Date_var,7,2)).
Compute New_Date  = DATE.MDY(Var_Month,Var_Day,Var_Year).

FORMATS New_Date (ADATE10).
EXECUTE.

---Edward.

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:SPSSX-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU]On Behalf Of
[Ela Bonbevan]
Sent: Wednesday, July 12, 2006 10:25 AM
To: SPSSX-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: Transforming date variables


Hello all,

Another small question - I am working with spss 14 and using the date
function.  I have a variable imported from Excel that is a date but it is
in a numeric format.  I want to make it a recognized date variable in
spss.  For July 25, 2006 the value appears as 20060725.  Using the
date/time wizard it appears easiest to transform a variable that is a
string.  I want to do this in the syntax but I can't figure out how.  This
means that I have to go back to the data window and change it to a string
manually.  I am sure this is easy to do but I have been through the manual
section on formats with no luck...

Many thanks
Diane