Question Re: Problem converting date from flat file PDATE in Technology Q&A

Problem converting date from flat file PDATE

Former Member — Thu, 23 May 2013 22:50:47 GMT

Hello,

I'm VERY new to BW. We are on version 7.2. I hope I am posting to the right area (attempt 2).

I'm trying to import a flat file, over whose format we have little or no control. Dates are in the British format dd/mm/yyyy. After looking at (a lot of) other posts, I think I need to use the PDATE Conversion Routine in the DataSource Fields tab. However it is failing with the message:

Error 'Invalid date of birth' at conversion exit CONVERSION_EXIT_PDATE_INPUT (field TRADEDATE record 1, value 01/06/2012)

Obviously this date is valid (as a British date).

For the field TRADEDATE I have set (see screenshot) :

Data type to DATS,

External Length to 12

Conversion Routine to PDATE and

Format to External.

What is wrong with my setup?

Thanks in advance ...

Re: Problem converting date from flat file PDATE

anindya_bose — Fri, 24 May 2013 00:56:08 GMT

Hi Les

Your data seems to be correct , please check if you are looking at correct error message.

You can run transaction code SE37 and test with Function Module

CONVERSION_EXIT_PDATE_INPUT and see if you pass 01/06/2012 what is the output.

I use CONVERSION_EXIT_RSDAT_INPUT for US date format but now I realized it is taking

01/06/2012 as 06-Jan-2012 instead of 01-June-2012. This issue can be handled in routine level in the transformation.

This article will give you understanding about conversion routine.

http://wiki.sdn.sap.com/wiki/display/BI/Conversion+Exits+and+Data+Loading

and also check what setting you have for your user id here..

http://help.sap.com/saphelp_erp60_sp/helpdata/en/3b/c33d41536ff323e10000000a155106/content.htm

Also set External Length as 10 and Internal as 8 char and Data Type DATS

Cheers

Anindya

Re: Problem converting date from flat file PDATE

Former Member — Fri, 24 May 2013 01:30:16 GMT

Anindya,

Thanks for your response. I tested the function in SE37 as you suggested, and it is also giving the error there. I've tried a few variations and it is always the same.

Do you have a link to more information on the RPDT/CONVERSION_EXIT_PDATE_INPUT function?

The second link isn't working, so I can't tell about my userid.

Regards,

Les

Re: Problem converting date from flat file PDATE

former_member182470 — Fri, 24 May 2013 04:21:21 GMT

Please look at the last suggestion. http://scn.sap.com/thread/195988

Also look at this too http://scn.sap.com/thread/282630

Regards,

Suman

Re: Problem converting date from flat file PDATE

Former Member — Fri, 24 May 2013 04:34:07 GMT

Suman,

Thanks - it is useful know anyway that it wouldn't accept future dates, because I am going to need those.

Regards,

Les

Re: Problem converting date from flat file PDATE

Former Member — Fri, 24 May 2013 04:37:11 GMT

Hello,

Thanks to those who responded. I have got around this by importing it into the PSA as CHAR, then using the CONVERTDATE function in the DSO Transformation (which is, I think, one of the approaches Anindya was suggesting).

Cheers,

Les