How to calculate the number of month between two dates

[DBel2012]

Hi,

I'm using EViews 9.

A very simple one that I can't figure out...

I'm working with monthly data. In my program, I need to calculate the number of months between two dates

for instance, if I've got this code :

smpl %end_est %end_forecast

What formula would give me the number of months in that current sample ?

Thanks!

Danny

[EViews Gareth]

Depends. Are you asking how many observations are there between the end and start of the current sample? If so @obssmpl.

If you want to know how many months there are between two dates, you can use @datediff.

[DBel2012]

Hi,

@obssmpl works fine as long as there are no missing values in the sample period.

Given two dates (ex. smpl 2008m12 and 2012m06), is there another way to determine the number of months covered by that sample period?

Thanks!

Danny

[EViews Gareth]

Not sure what you are askibg

[DBel2012]

Hi,

I want to run a program that ask the user to provide a sample period of two dates (ex. 2008m12 and 2012m06) and I need a command or formula that will determine the number of months between these two dates. That number will be used later in the program in a For loop.

Is there a way other than using the @obssmpl?

Thanks!

Danny

[EViews Gareth]

Depends. Are you asking how many observations are there between the end and start of the current sample? If so @obssmpl.

If you want to know how many months there are between two dates, you can use @datediff.

[DBel2012]

Hi Gareth,

@datediff works perfectly.

Thanks a lot!

Danny

[EViews Gareth]

That's why I mentioned it the first time