How to convert numeric date values into character and from character date values into numeric using DATASTEP, PROC SQL and ARRAYS

1) Converting character date values into numeric:

/*I) Using the DATASTEP:*/

1)
Data dates; input cdate $9.; cards;
16-apr-07
01-01-07
02-jun-07
13-sep-07
; run;

Data Convert; set dates;
Date = input( cdate , ANYDTDTE9.); format date date7.;
run;

2)
Data dates;
input cdate $9.; cards;
16-apr-2007
01-01-2007
02-jun-2007
13-sep-2007
; run;

Data Convert;
set dates;
Date = input( cdate , ANYDTDTE11.);
format date date9.; run;

*II) Using Proc SQL;
*Numeric date variable can be converted to character date variable by using the PUT function within PROC SQL.;
proc sql;
create table date_char as
select PUT(date,date9.)as ndate
from date_num; quit;
*Character date variable can be converted to numeric date variable by using the INPUT function within PROC SQL.;
Proc sql;
create table date_num as
select INPUT (date,mmddyy10.)as ndate
format=mmddyy10.
from date_char; quit;
Or

Proc sql;
create table date_num as
select INPUT (date,date9.)as ndate format=date9.
from date_char; quit;
III) Using Arrays;

*using arrays to convert character date variables aestdtc and aeendtc into numeric variables:

data c_date;
set date;
array cha_date { 2 } $ 10 aeendtc aestdtc; array num_date { 2 } aeendt aestdt;
do i = 1 to 2;
num_date{ I } = input(cha_date{ i }, anydtdte10.);
end;
drop aeendtc aestdtc; run;


*Using Arrays converting variables from numeric to character;
data new; set old (rename=(b1=a1 b2=a2 b3=a3 b4=a4 b5=a5));
array aa $ b1 b2 b3 b4 b5;
array bb a1 a2 a3 a4 a5; do I=1 to dim(aa);
aa (i)= put(bb(i),8.0);
end;
drop I a1 a2 a3 a4 a5 a6; run;
*Using Arrays converting variables from character to numeric;
*By using the INPUT instead of PUT we can convert character variables into numeric;
data new ;
set old (rename=(b1=a1 b2=a2 b3=a3 b4=a4 b5=a5));
array aa b1 b2 b3 b4 b5;
array bb $ a1 a2 a3 a4 a5;
do I=1 to dim (aa);
aa (i)=input(bb(i),8.0);
end;
drop I a1 a2 a3 a4 a5 a6;
run;

Note: Dont forget to use $ sign inside the array statement when converting the vars from Num to char or Char to num.