How to change a STRING into a DATE: Mimic POINT and CLICK

Question & Answer

Question

I am using SPSS for Windows and have many variables that which look like date variables but are actually string variables. I have noticed that I can simply double click on the variable heading in the data editor and change the type of variable from string to date. I also notice that the generated syntax is merely a FORMATS command. When I issue the equivalent FORMATS command: FORMATS STRDATE (DATE11). SPSS gives me this error: Error # 4836 in column 9. Text: STRDATE Only the formats A and AHEX can be applied to string variables. This command not executed. I have many of these fields and don't want to point and click on variable headings for an indefinite period of time. Is there a syntax solution which will work for many variables?

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Historical Number

17490

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Document Information

More support for:
IBM SPSS Statistics

Software version:
Not Applicable

Document number:
417773

Modified date:
16 April 2020

UID

swg21476171

IBM Support

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