In this case, I think only the first two lines of method 2 are needed: COMPUTE mydate=NUMBER(datestr,ADATE10). FORMATS mydate(ADATE10).

________________________________

From: SPSSX(r) Discussion on behalf of Ariel Barak Sent: Thu 12/20/2007 1:05 PM To: SPSSX-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU Subject: Re: STRING TO DATE?

Sydelle,

The text below is copied from Raynald's SPSS Tools website -

http://www.spsstools.net/LearningSyntax.htm#DateTutorial

HTH, Ariel

** 3. Convert a string containing a date into a date variable.*

DATA LIST LIST /datestr(A10). BEGIN DATA 11/26/1966 01/15/1981 END DATA. LIST. *

--> method 1* (a general method)

COMPUTE mth=NUMBER(SUBSTR(datestr,1,2),F8.0). COMPUTE day=NUMBER(SUBSTR(datestr,4,2),F8.0). COMPUTE yr=NUMBER(SUBSTR(datestr,7),F8.0). COMPUTE mydate=DATE.DMY(day,mth,yr). FORMAT mydate(SDATE11). VARIABLE WIDTH mydate (11). EXECUTE.

* The date in the above string variable has the form mm/dd/yyyy. The code works as * is if the initial format is mm.dd.yyyy or mm-dd-yyyy. It is easy to modify the above * to handle variations such as yyyy/mm/dd, dd/mm/yyyy. *

--> method 2* (works only when data fit an existing SPSS date format)

COMPUTE mydate=NUMBER(datestr,ADATE10). FORMATS mydate(ADATE10). VARIABLE WIDTH mydate(10). /* The purpose of this line is to display all 4 digits of the year in the data editor */. EXECUTE.

On Dec 20, 2007 12:33 PM, Raffe, Sydelle, SSA <DRaffe@acgov.org> wrote:

> I have string vars in the format 08/31/2007. How can I use syntax to > convert them to date vars? Thanks. > > Sydelle Raffe, Alameda County Social Services Agency > Information Services Division, Office of Data Management > e:mail: draffe@acgov.org > phone: 510-271-9174 fax: 510-271-9107 > If you have a request for information, please submit an ODM request form > at: > https://alamedasocialservices.org/staff/support_services/statistics_and_reports/odm/index.cfm > > To manage your subscription to SPSSX-L, send a message to > LISTSERV@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU (not to SPSSX-L), with no body text except the > command. To leave the list, send the command > SIGNOFF SPSSX-L > For a list of commands to manage subscriptions, send the command > INFO REFCARD >

===================== To manage your subscription to SPSSX-L, send a message to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU (not to SPSSX-L), with no body text except the command. To leave the list, send the command SIGNOFF SPSSX-L For a list of commands to manage subscriptions, send the command INFO REFCARD

====================To manage your subscription to SPSSX-L, send a message to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU (not to SPSSX-L), with no body text except the command. To leave the list, send the command SIGNOFF SPSSX-L For a list of commands to manage subscriptions, send the command INFO REFCARD