Converting character date to numeric date

[Cauchy1412]

I have a SAS file where the dates (e.g. 6/25/2005) were formatted in Character type. I would like to compute elapsed number of days between entered dates, so I need to change the type in order to do this, correct? Here is what I tried:

datevar1 = INPUT(DATE1A, mmddyy8.);
datevar2 = INPUT(DATE1B, mmddyy8.);

datediff = datevar2 - datevar1;
run;

When I do this I get this NOTE: Invalid argument to function INPUT at line...

I am a new to SAS and researched several websites about type conversion before posting this. Does someone have a suggestion on what I should try next?

Thanks.
Joe

 

[Cauchy1412]

I figured it out.

mmddyy10 instead of mmddyy8.

 

[ChrisW75]

Well done. Thanks for posting the fix back too!

 

[klaz2002]

Cauchy1412,
You prob don't need this but you can use what you discoved like this:

days = DATDIF(INPUT(DATE1A, mmddyy10.),INPUT(DATE1B, mmddyy10.),'act/act');

Klaz