# Data Controller for SAS® - Dates & Datetimes

## Overview

Dates & datetimes are stored as plain numerics in regular SAS tables. In order for the Data Controller to recognise these values as dates / datetimes a format must be applied.


![displayed](img/dcc-dates1.png) ![source](img/dcc-dates2.png)

Supported date formats:

* DATE.
* DDMMYY.
* MMDDYY.
* YYMMDD.
* E8601DA.
* B8601DA.
* NLDATE.

Supported datetime formats:

* DATETIME.
* NLDATM.

Supported time formats:

* TIME.
* HHMM.

In SAS 9, this format must also be present / updated in the metadata view of the (physical) table to be displayed properly.  This can be done using DI Studio, or by running the following (template) code:

```sas
proc metalib;
  omr (library="Your Library");
  folder="/Shared Data/table storage location";
  update_rule=(delete);
run;
```

!!! note
    Data Controller does not support decimals when EDITING.  For datetimes, this means that values must be rounded to 1 second (milliseconds are not supported).

In the LOAD screen these dates display as **ISO 8601** (`YYYY-MM-DD`, `HH:mm:ss`, `YYYY-MM-DDTHH:mm:ss`) regardless of the user's locale.  This guarantees:

- Consistent CSV / Excel exports across geographies
- Predictable copy / paste between cells and into external tools
- No more `1/2/2026` vs `2/1/2026` ambiguity at edit time

If you need a locale-specific *display* (eg `DD/MM/YYYY`) on a per-column basis, use the new [`NUMBER_FORMAT`](/dcc-validations/) rule with an `Intl.DateTimeFormat`-compatible JSON value.
    
If you have other dates / datetimes / times you would like us to support, do [get in touch](https://datacontroller.io/contact)!