Date:         Thu, 14 May 2009 14:13:32 -0400
Reply-To:     Michael Raithel <michaelraithel@WESTAT.COM>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Michael Raithel <michaelraithel@WESTAT.COM>
Subject:      Re: SUGI 17 and datediff function
In-Reply-To:  <037AB3FF38D44C4BAFB5DFF3D06B57BA036C2F1B@EX-CMS01.westat.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Dear SAS-L-ers,

My esteemed colleague from Maryland, Mike Rhoads, posted the following:

>
> I remember that conference fondly as well ... wound up
> getting to go even though they turned down the abstract I
> submitted.  ;-)
>
> I no longer have the Proceedings, but I do have an old copy
> of "Master Index to SUGI Proceedings." There is an entry for
> DateDiff MACRO (not function), listing a paper on pages
> 123-128.  Perhaps Michael Ra. could work from that to zero in
> on the paper title and author.
>
Mike, you didn't miss anything in the presenting category.  I traveled 10-hours on a plane the Monday of the conference, practicing my presentation over and over in my aisle seat, took the shuttle directly to the hotel, showered and was giving my presentation 1.5 hours after landing... to a group of 5 (F-I-V-E!) people.  Where were the others?  On Waikiki Beach of course!

Getting back to your investigatory prowess:  Eureka; you got it!

Proceedings of the 17th Annual SAS Users Group International Conference

PP. 123 - 128

DateDif--More than a SAS Macro

by Jerry Kagan, Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories

The paper begins:  "DateDiff is a SS statement macro that can be used to return the difference between two dates in years, months, and days. Using DateDiff makes possible the arrangement of a date difference in a more humanly understandable format than simply displaying total number of days."

The macro, itself, encompasses three pages.

I am thinking that some of the more recent SAS tools that have been suggested by other posters would be appropriate for the OP's purposes... whatever they are.  Otherwise, if s/he is ever in Rockville, Maryland and wants to drop by for a look at my SUGI 17 proceedings...:-)

Mike, I'll see you on the 'L or in the SAS Mecca hallways!

I hope that this suggestion proves helpful now, and in the future!

Of course, all of these opinions and insights are my own, and do not reflect those of my organization or my associates. All SAS code and/or methodologies specified in this posting are for illustrative purposes only and no warranty is stated or implied as to their accuracy or applicability. People deciding to use information in this posting do so at their own risk.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Michael A. Raithel
"The man who wrote the book on performance"
E-mail: MichaelRaithel@westat.com

Author: Tuning SAS Applications in the MVS Environment

Author: Tuning SAS Applications in the OS/390 and z/OS Environments, Second Edition

http://www.sas.com/apps/pubscat/bookdetails.jsp?catid=1&pc=58172

Author: The Complete Guide to SAS Indexes

http://www.sas.com/apps/pubscat/bookdetails.jsp?catid=1&pc=60409

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Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names. - John F. Kennedy
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