I have the following defines set up and need to use it in four separate defines that read four different tables. Instead of copying these defines to the four separate define file sections, is there a way to convert some of these defines to -SET commands? When I converted the DATEADD defines to -SET commands, the date values in the subsequent defines return an integer date instead of the correct YYMD date. Thanks.

 
END_DATE/YYMD       = '&END_RPT_DATE';
DATE12/I8YYMD       = END_DATE;
DATE11/I8YYMD       = DATEADD (END_DATE, 'M', -11);
DATE10/I8YYMD       = DATEADD (END_DATE, 'M', -10);
DATE9/I8YYMD        = DATEADD (END_DATE, 'M', -9);
DATE8/I8YYMD        = DATEADD (END_DATE, 'M', -8);
DATE7/I8YYMD        = DATEADD (END_DATE, 'M', -7);
DATE6/I8YYMD        = DATEADD (END_DATE, 'M', -6);
DATE5/I8YYMD        = DATEADD (END_DATE, 'M', -5);
DATE4/I8YYMD        = DATEADD (END_DATE, 'M', -4);
DATE3/I8YYMD        = DATEADD (END_DATE, 'M', -3);
DATE2/I8YYMD        = DATEADD (END_DATE, 'M', -2);
DATE1/I8YYMD        = DATEADD (END_DATE, 'M', -1);
-*
START_Q1/YYMD       = '&DATE11';
START_Q2/YYMD       = DATE8;
START_Q3/YYMD       = DATE5;
START_Q4/YYMD       = DATE2;
-*
MOEND_Q1/YYMD       = DATE9;
MOEND_Q2/YYMD       = DATE6;
MOEND_Q3/YYMD       = DATE3;
-*
ALPHA_Q1/A8YYMD     = EDIT(DATE9);
ALPHA_Q2/A8YYMD     = EDIT(DATE6);
ALPHA_Q3/A8YYMD     = EDIT(DATE3);
ALPHA_Q4/A8YYMD     = EDIT(DATE12);
-*
Q1_YEAR/A4          = EDIT(ALPHA_Q1,'9999');
Q2_YEAR/A4          = EDIT(ALPHA_Q2,'9999');
Q3_YEAR/A4          = EDIT(ALPHA_Q3,'9999');
Q4_YEAR/A4          = EDIT(ALPHA_Q4,'9999');
-*
Q1_HEADING/A7       = 'Q1 '|Q1_YEAR;
Q2_HEADING/A7       = 'Q2 '|Q2_YEAR;
Q3_HEADING/A7       = 'Q3 '|Q3_YEAR;
Q4_HEADING/A7       = 'Q4 '|Q4_YEAR;
-*
END_Q1/YYMD         = DATEMOV(MOEND_Q1,'EOM');
END_Q2/YYMD         = DATEMOV(MOEND_Q2,'EOM');
END_Q3/YYMD         = DATEMOV(MOEND_Q3,'EOM');
END_Q4/YYMD         = DATEMOV(END_DATE,'EOM');
-*
BEG_Q1/YYMD         = DATEMOV(START_Q1,'BOM');
BEG_Q2/YYMD         = DATEMOV(START_Q2,'BOM');
BEG_Q3/YYMD         = DATEMOV(START_Q3,'BOM');
BEG_Q4/YYMD         = DATEMOV(START_Q4,'BOM');
-*
QTR_PERIOD/I1       = IF (RPRT_DATE GE BEG_Q1) AND (RPRT_DATE LE END_Q1) THEN 1 ELSE
                      IF (RPRT_DATE GE BEG_Q2) AND (RPRT_DATE LE END_Q2) THEN 2 ELSE
					  IF (RPRT_DATE GE BEG_Q3) AND (RPRT_DATE LE END_Q3) THEN 3 ELSE
					  IF (RPRT_DATE GE BEG_Q4) AND (RPRT_DATE LE END_Q4) THEN 4 ELSE 0;

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Michele Brooks,

You can't use Date and Date/Time functions in Dialogue Manager as easily as you can in DEFINE and COMPUTE. You have to use DATECVT to convert from string to date, then use the Date or Date/Time function, then use DATECVT to convert back to string.

In your case, why not create a fex that you include where needed? In this way you do not have to duplicate code.

I've piped in on FocalPoint many times regarding using Date and Date/Time functions with Dialogue Manager. Like this example:

-SET &DATEIN = '20150328';
-SET &DATEADD6 = DATECVT((DATEADD((DATECVT(&DATEIN, 'I8YYMD', 'YYMD')), 'D', 6)), 'YYMD', 'I8YYMD');
-TYPE IN: &DATEIN / OUT: &DATEADD6

The innermost DATECVT function call converts the string value &DATEIN to a smart date. Then the DATEADD function runs and then the outermost DATECVT function converts the smart date back to a string.

Francis, thanks so much. I'll create a define to include in the fex. Great suggestion. Thanks.

Also don't forget, that you can create DEFINE FUNCTIONS