How To Modify the Results of the MDY() Function

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Normally, a date in the form of month/day/year does not have a zero in front of a day. The MDY() function always places a zero in front of single-digit days. The program listed in this article uses the functions MDY() and STRTRAN() to remove the blank space and zero and replace it with only a blank space.

The program searches the value returned from the MDY() function for a blank space followed by a zero. If it finds this combination, the STRTRAN() function replaces it with a blank space.

WARNING: The MDY() function changes the data type of the variable from a date type to a character type so that the unwanted zero can be removed. If the variable must remain as a date type, no setting or function exists to remove it. Furthermore, after modifying the format of the variable, you can't use the CTOD() functions to convert it back to its original date format.

Create a program file named Test that contains the following code. Then run the program.

   SET CENTURY ON
   x={01/01/1996}
   y={01/01/2000}
   ? MDY(x)
   ? MDY(y)
   ? STRTRAN(MDY(x)," 0"," ")
   ? STRTRAN(MDY(y)," 0"," ")
   SET CENTURY OFF