Checking if Date is Between two Dates in R

Question

I have two large datasets, df1 and df2. The first dataset, df1, contains the columns 'ID' and 'actual.data'.

df1 <- data.frame(ID=c(1,1,1,2,3,4,4), actual.date=c('10/01/1997','2/01/1998','5/01/2002','7/01/1999','9/01/2005','5/01/2006','2/03/2003'));
dcis <- grep('date$',names(df1));
df1[dcis] <- lapply(df1[dcis],as.Date,'%m/%d/%Y');
df1;

   ID actual.date
1  1  1997-10-01
2  1  1998-02-01
3  1  2002-05-01
4  2  1999-07-01
5  3  2005-09-01
6  4  2006-05-01
7  4  2003-02-03

The second dataset, df2, contains two date fields, 'before,date' and 'after.date', which represent a start and end date, respectively:

df2 <- data.frame(ID=c(1,1,1,2,3,4,4,4), before.date=c('10/1/1996','1/1/1998','1/1/2000','1/1/2001','1/1/2001','1/1/2001','10/1/2004','10/3/2004'), after.date=c('12/1/1996','9/30/2003','12/31/2004','3/31/2006','9/30/2006','9/30/2005','12/30/2004','11/28/2004') );
dcis <- grep('date$',names(df2));
df2[dcis] <- lapply(df2[dcis],as.Date,'%m/%d/%Y');
df2;

   ID before.date after.date
1  1  1996-10-01 1996-12-01
2  1  1998-01-01 2003-09-30
3  1  2000-01-01 2004-12-31
4  2  2001-01-01 2006-03-31
5  3  2001-01-01 2006-09-30
6  4  2001-01-01 2005-09-30
7  4  2004-10-01 2004-12-30
8  4  2004-10-03 2004-11-28

My goal is to create a new column at the end of df1 named 'match' that indicates whether the 'actual.date' for each row in df1 is between the ‘before.date’ and ‘after.date’ of any of the observations of the same ID in df2. If it is between, I want to give the 'match' column a value of 1, otherwise 0 (includes instances with no 'ID' match).

This is the output I am hoping for:

   ID before.date match
1  1  1997-10-01 0
2  1  1998-02-01 1
3  1  2002-05-01 1
4  2  1999-07-01 0
5  3  2005-09-01 1
7  4  2006-05-01 0
8  4  2003-02-03 1

I think this can be done with a for() loop, but I am not too knowledgeable about R.

Sample Data:

    DF1

structure(list(cikcode = c("20", "20", "20", "20", "20", "20",
"20", "20", "20", "20", "20", "20", "20", "20", "20", "20", "20",
"20", "20", "1750"), auditorkey = c("4", "4", "5", "5", "5",
"5", "6", "6", "6", "6", "6", "6", "6", "6", "6", "6", "6", "6",
"6", "4"), yearendeddate = structure(c(4L, 4L, 2L, 2L, 3L, 3L,
5L, 5L, 6L, 6L, 7L, 7L, 8L, 8L, 9L, 9L, 10L, 10L, 11L, 1L), .Label = c("2000-05-31",
"2000-12-30", "2001-12-29", "2002-12-28", "2004-01-03", "2005-01-01",
"2005-12-31", "2006-12-30", "2007-12-29", "2009-01-03", "2010-01-02"
), class = "factor"), source = structure(c(1L, 3L, 1L, 3L, 2L,
3L, 1L, 3L, 1L, 3L, 1L, 3L, 1L, 3L, 1L, 3L, 1L, 3L, 1L, 2L), .Label = c("10-K",
"10-K405", "DEF 14A"), class = "factor"), sourcedate = structure(c(6L,
7L, 2L, 3L, 4L, 5L, 8L, 9L, 10L, 20L, 11L, 12L, 13L, 14L, 15L,
16L, 17L, 18L, 19L, 1L), .Label = c("2000-08-24", "2001-03-26",
"2001-03-28", "2002-03-20", "2002-03-25", "2003-03-27", "2003-03-31",
"2004-04-01", "2004-04-06", "2005-03-31", "2006-03-23", "2006-03-28",
"2007-03-09", "2007-03-27", "2008-03-12", "2008-04-04", "2009-03-13",
"2009-04-06", "2010-03-15", "2005-04-04"), class = "factor"),
    financialsdate = structure(c(4L, 4L, 2L, 2L, 3L, 3L, 5L,
    5L, 6L, 6L, 7L, 7L, 8L, 8L, 9L, 9L, 10L, 10L, 11L, 1L), .Label = c("2000-05-31",
    "2000-12-30", "2001-12-29", "2002-12-28", "2004-01-03", "2005-01-01",
    "2005-12-31", "2006-12-30", "2007-12-29", "2009-01-03", "2010-01-02"
    ), class = "factor"), auditopinionkey = c("3538", "NA", "66900",
    "NA", "78252", "NA", "39225", "NA", "84748", "NA", "102979",
    "NA", "120889", "NA", "148621", "NA", "171604", "NA", "192814",
    "156138"), auditorstatecode = structure(c(2L, NA, 2L, NA,
    2L, NA, 2L, NA, 2L, NA, 2L, NA, 2L, NA, 2L, NA, 2L, NA, 2L,
    1L), .Label = c("IL", "PA"), class = "factor"), auditorstatename = structure(c(2L,
    NA, 2L, NA, 2L, NA, 2L, NA, 2L, NA, 2L, NA, 2L, NA, 2L, NA,
    2L, NA, 2L, 1L), .Label = c("ILLINOIS", "PENNSYLVANIA"), class = "factor"),
    goingconcern = structure(c(1L, NA, 1L, NA, 1L, NA, 1L, NA,
    1L, NA, 1L, NA, 1L, NA, 1L, NA, 1L, NA, 1L, 1L), .Label = "No", class = "factor"),
    goingconcernissuekeylist = structure(c(1L, NA, 1L, NA, 1L,
    NA, 1L, NA, 1L, NA, 1L, NA, 1L, NA, 1L, NA, 1L, NA, 1L, 1L
    ), .Label = "", class = "factor"), goingconcernissuephraselist = structure(c(1L,
    NA, 1L, NA, 1L, NA, 1L, NA, 1L, NA, 1L, NA, 1L, NA, 1L, NA,
    1L, NA, 1L, 1L), .Label = "", class = "factor"), isadditionalopinion = structure(c(1L,
    NA, 1L, NA, 1L, NA, 1L, NA, 1L, NA, 1L, NA, 1L, NA, 1L, NA,
    1L, NA, 1L, 1L), .Label = "No", class = "factor"), restatement = c("NA",
    "0", "NA", "0", "NA", "0", "NA", "0", "NA", "0", "NA", "0",
    "NA", "0", "NA", "0", "NA", "0", "0", "NA"), yearended = c("NA",
    "2002", "NA", "2000", "NA", "2001", "NA", "2003", "NA", "2004",
    "NA", "2005", "NA", "2006", "NA", "2007", "NA", "2008", "2009",
    "NA"), assets = c("50,459,000", "50,459,000", "54,421,000",
    "54,421,000", "47,644,000", "47,644,000", "83,081,000", "83,081,000",
    "93,016,000", "93,016,000", "89,110,000", "89,110,000", "140,996,000",
    "140,996,000", "184,118,000", "184,118,000", "199,444,000",
    "199,444,000", "204,236,000", "740,998,000"), auditfees = c("123,700",
    "123,700", "200,000", "200,000", "185,000", "185,000", "137,100",
    "137,100", "225,000", "225,000", "244,000", "244,000", "574,000",
    "574,000", "669,000", "669,000", "680,000", "680,000", "643,000",
    "NA"), auditor = c("KPMG LLP", "KPMG LLP", "Arthur Andersen LLP",
    "Arthur Andersen LLP", "Arthur Andersen LLP", "Arthur Andersen LLP",
    "Grant Thornton LLP", "Grant Thornton LLP", "Grant Thornton LLP",
    "Grant Thornton LLP", "Grant Thornton LLP", "Grant Thornton LLP",
    "Grant Thornton LLP", "Grant Thornton LLP", "Grant Thornton LLP",
    "Grant Thornton LLP", "Grant Thornton LLP", "Grant Thornton LLP",
    "Grant Thornton LLP", "KPMG LLP"), earnings = c("3,284,000",
    "3,284,000", "5,838,000", "5,838,000", "1,048,000", "1,048,000",
    "NA", "", "NA", "", "NA", "", "NA", "", "21,321,000", "21,321,000",
    "25,773,000", "25,773,000", "21,555,000", "35,163,000"),
    naicscode = c("334513", "334513", "334513", "334513", "334513",
    "334513", "334513", "334513", "334513", "334513", "334513",
    "334513", "334513", "334513", "334513", "334513", "334513",
    "334513", "334513", "334613"), revenue = c("68,231,000",
    "68,231,000", "84,912,000", "84,912,000", "71,819,000", "71,819,000",
    "94,676,000", "94,676,000", "112,494,000", "112,494,000",
    "118,940,000", "118,940,000", "148,127,008", "148,127,008",
    "201,677,000", "201,677,000", "243,018,000", "243,018,000",
    "190,774,000", "1,024,333,000"), siccode = c("3823", "3823",
    "3823", "3823", "3823", "3823", "3823", "3823", "3823", "3823",
    "3823", "3823", "3823", "3823", "3823", "3823", "3823", "3823",
    "3823", "3720"), statecode = c("NJ", "NJ", "NJ", "NJ", "NJ",
    "NJ", "NJ", "NJ", "NJ", "NJ", "NJ", "NJ", "NJ", "NJ", "NJ",
    "NJ", "NJ", "NJ", "NJ", "IL"), statename = c("NEW JERSEY",
    "NEW JERSEY", "NEW JERSEY", "NEW JERSEY", "NEW JERSEY", "NEW JERSEY",
    "NEW JERSEY", "NEW JERSEY", "NEW JERSEY", "NEW JERSEY", "NEW JERSEY",
    "NEW JERSEY", "NEW JERSEY", "NEW JERSEY", "NEW JERSEY", "NEW JERSEY",
    "NEW JERSEY", "NEW JERSEY", "NEW JERSEY", "ILLINOIS"), ticker = c("NA",
    "", "NA", "", "NA", "", "NA", "", "NA", "", "NA", "", "NA",
    "", "NA", "", "NA", "", "", "AIR")), .Names = c("cikcode",
"auditorkey", "yearendeddate", "source", "sourcedate", "financialsdate",
"auditopinionkey", "auditorstatecode", "auditorstatename", "goingconcern",
"goingconcernissuekeylist", "goingconcernissuephraselist", "isadditionalopinion",
"restatement", "yearended", "assets", "auditfees", "auditor",
"earnings", "naicscode", "revenue", "siccode", "statecode", "statename",
"ticker"), row.names = c(NA, 20L), class = "data.frame")


DF2

structure(list(cikcode = c(320193L, 72971L, 72971L, 200406L,
40545L, 40545L, 1114448L, 19617L, 19617L, 1067983L, 70858L, 313807L,
1578845L, 1113172L, 64803L, 1135644L, 731766L, 14272L, 14272L,
66740L), auditoratdisclosuredate = c("KPMG LLP", "KPMG LLP",
"KPMG LLP", "PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP", "KPMG LLP", "KPMG LLP",
"PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP", "PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP", "PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP",
"Deloitte & Touche LLP", "PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP", "Ernst & Young LLP",
"PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP", "PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP", "KPMG LLP",
"KPMG LLP", "Deloitte & Touche LLP", "PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP",
"PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP", "PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP"),
    auditoratdisclosuredatekey = c("4", "4", "4", "1", "4", "4",
    "1", "1", "1", "3", "1", "2", "1", "1", "4", "4", "3", "1",
    "1", "1"), auditorduringrestatedperiod = c("|KPMG LLP|",
    "|KPMG LLP|", "|KPMG LLP|", "|PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP|",
    "|KPMG LLP|", "|KPMG LLP|", "|PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP|PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PricewaterhouseCoopers AG, SWITZERLAND)|",
    "|PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP|", "|PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP|",
    "|Deloitte & Touche LLP|", "|PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP|PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (Price Waterhouse & Co SRL, ARGENTINA)|",
    "|Ernst & Young LLP|Ernst & Young LLP (Ernst & Young LLP, UNITED KINGDOM)|",
    "|PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP|", "|Deloitte & Touche LLP (Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Auditores Independentes, BRAZIL)|Deloitte & Touche LLP (KPMG Auditores Independentes, BRAZIL)|KPMG LLP (Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Auditores Independentes, BRAZIL)|KPMG LLP (KPMG Auditores Independentes, BRAZIL)|",
    "|KPMG LLP|", "|KPMG LLP (KPMG Deutsche Treuhand-Gesellschaft AG WPG, GERMANY)|",
    "|Arthur Andersen LLP|Deloitte & Touche LLP|", "|PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP|",
    "|PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP|", "|PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP|"
    ), auditorduringrestatedperiodkeys = c("|4|", "|4|", "|4|",
    "|1|", "|4|", "|4|", "|1|", "|1|", "|1|", "|3|", "|1|", "|2|",
    "|1|", "|3|4|", "|4|", "|4|", "|5|3|", "|1|", "|1|", "|1|"
    ), auditoropinionperiodendduringrestatedperiod = c("|KPMG LLP|",
    "|KPMG LLP|", "|KPMG LLP|", "", "|KPMG LLP|", "|KPMG LLP|",
    "|PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP[PricewaterhouseCoopers AG]|",
    "|PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP|", "", "", "|PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP|",
    "|Ernst & Young LLP[Ernst & Young LLP]|", "|PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP|",
    "|KPMG LLP[KPMG Auditores Independentes]|", "", "|KPMG LLP[KPMG Deutsche Treuhand-Gesellschaft AG WPG]|",
    "|Arthur Andersen LLP|Deloitte & Touche LLP|", "|PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP|",
    "|PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP|", "|PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP|"
    ), auditoropinionperiodendduringrestatedperiodkeys = c("|4|",
    "|4|", "|4|", "", "|4|", "|4|", "|1|", "|1|", "", "", "|1|",
    "|2|", "|1|", "|4|", "", "|4|", "|5|3|", "|1|", "|1|", "|1|"
    ), restatementkey = c("10196", "12617", "42632", "44280",
    "857", "22310", "7995", "10187", "38972", "5379", "6357",
    "9495", "49566", "32005", "45575", "15890", "13410", "695",
    "3752", "36923"), restatedperiodbegin = c("1996-10-01", "1998-01-01",
    "2005-01-01", "2012-01-01", "2001-01-01", "2001-01-01", "2003-01-01",
    "2003-01-01", "2012-01-01", "2001-07-01", "2001-01-01", "2000-01-01",
    "2014-01-01", "2007-01-01", "1997-01-01", "2000-10-01", "1994-01-01",
    "2001-01-01", "1999-01-01", "2010-01-01"), restatedperiodended = c("2006-04-01",
    "2003-09-30", "2007-09-30", "2012-07-01", "2006-03-31", "2006-09-30",
    "2004-12-31", "2006-03-31", "2012-03-31", "2001-09-30", "2005-09-30",
    "2004-12-31", "2014-12-31", "2008-12-31", "1998-12-31", "2006-09-30",
    "2006-09-30", "2003-09-30", "2002-06-30", "2011-03-31"),
    disclosure = c("Press Release", "10-Q/A", "10-K", "10-Q",
    "8-K", "8-K", "20-F", "8-K", "8-K", "10-Q/A", "8-K", "20-F/A",
    "10-Q", "20-F", "8-K", "20-F", "8-K", "8-K", "Press Release",
    "10-Q"), disclosuredate = c("2006-06-29", "2004-01-16", "2008-02-29",
    "2012-11-09", "2005-05-06", "2007-01-19", "2006-01-30", "2006-08-03",
    "2012-07-13", "2002-03-15", "2006-02-22", "2006-06-13", "2015-05-11",
    "2010-04-21", "1999-11-15", "2006-12-11", "2006-04-07", "2004-01-29",
    "2002-10-22", "2011-08-04"), cumulativechangeinnetincome = c(NaN,
    NaN, 0, 0, 3.04344437838208e-315, NaN, NaN, 0, NaN, 0, 2.66795448754273e-315,
    0, 0, 0, 0, NaN, NaN, NaN, NaN, 0), accountingrulegaapfasbapplicationfailures = c("|Deferred, stock-based and/or executive comp issues|Deferred, stock-based options backdating only (subcategory)|",
    "|Lease,  SFAS 5, legal, contingency and commitment issues|Lease, leasehold and FAS 13 (98) only (subcategory)|",
    "|Cash flow statement (SFAS 95) classification errors|Lease,  SFAS 5, legal, contingency and commitment issues|",
    "|Cash flow statement (SFAS 95) classification errors|",
    "|Financial derivatives/hedging (FAS 133) acct issues|",
    "|Financial derivatives/hedging (FAS 133) acct issues|Foreign, related party, affiliated, or subsidiary issues|",
    "|PPE intangible or fixed asset (value/diminution) issues|Acquisitions, mergers, disposals, re-org acct  issues|Consolidation issues incl Fin 46 variable interest  & off-B/S|Deferred, stock-based and/or executive comp issues|Tax expense/benefit/deferral/other (FAS 109) issues|GAAP - Changes in Acct Principles FASB/EITF or Foreign GAAP|Acquisitions, mergers, only (subcategory) acct issues|PPE issues - Intangible assets, goodwill only (subcategory)|Pension and other post-retirement benefit issues|",
    "|Accounts/loans receivable, investments & cash issues|Cash flow statement (SFAS 95) classification errors|",
    "|Revenue recognition issues|", "|Consolidation issues incl Fin 46 variable interest  & off-B/S|Intercompany, investment in  subs./affiliate issues|",
    "|Financial derivatives/hedging (FAS 133) acct issues|",
    "|Revenue recognition issues|Financial derivatives/hedging (FAS 133) acct issues|Inventory, vendor and/or cost of sales issues|GAAP - Changes in Acct Principles FASB/EITF or Foreign GAAP|",
    "|Debt, quasi-debt, warrants & equity ( BCF) security issues|Foreign, related party, affiliated, or subsidiary issues|Cash flow statement (SFAS 95) classification errors|Foreign, subsidiary only issues (subcategory)|",
    "", "|Acquisitions, mergers, disposals, re-org acct  issues|Acquisitions, mergers, only (subcategory) acct issues|",
    "|Tax expense/benefit/deferral/other (FAS 109) issues|",
    "|Deferred, stock-based and/or executive comp issues|Deferred, stock-based options backdating only (subcategory)|",
    "|Acquisitions, mergers, disposals, re-org acct  issues|Consolidation issues incl Fin 46 variable interest  & off-B/S|Accounts/loans receivable, investments & cash issues|Tax expense/benefit/deferral/other (FAS 109) issues|Fin Statement,  footnote & segment disclosure issues|Pension and other post-retirement benefit issues|",
    "|Revenue recognition issues|Accounts/loans receivable, investments & cash issues|Inventory, vendor and/or cost of sales issues|",
    "|Cash flow statement (SFAS 95) classification errors|"),
    financialfraudirregularitiesandmisrepresentations = c("",
    "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "",
    "", "", "", ""), errorsaccountingandclericalapplications = c("",
    "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "|EPS, ratio and classification of income statement issues|",
    "", "", "", "", "", ""), othersignificantissues = c("", "",
    "", "", "", "", "", "", "|Z - Material Weakness - Section 404 or 302 issues identified|",
    "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "|Y - Loan covenant violations/issues|",
    ""), secinvestigation = c("", "", "Y", "", "Y", "Y", "",
    "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "")), .Names = c("cikcode",
"auditoratdisclosuredate", "auditoratdisclosuredatekey", "auditorduringrestatedperiod",
"auditorduringrestatedperiodkeys", "auditoropinionperiodendduringrestatedperiod",
"auditoropinionperiodendduringrestatedperiodkeys", "restatementkey",
"restatedperiodbegin", "restatedperiodended", "disclosure", "disclosuredate",
"cumulativechangeinnetincome", "accountingrulegaapfasbapplicationfailures",
"financialfraudirregularitiesandmisrepresentations", "errorsaccountingandclericalapplications",
"othersignificantissues", "secinvestigation"), row.names = c("1",
"2", "3", "4", "5", "6", "7", "8", "9", "10", "11", "12", "13",
"14", "15", "16", "17", "18", "19", "20"), class = "data.frame")

Solution 1

You may use foverlaps from data.table. Convert both the data.frames to data.table with start/end columns. Set the key column as the column names of each dataset. Use foverlaps to get the numeric index which can be converted to binary match based on the NA values in it.

library(data.table)#v1.9.5+
dt1 <- data.table(ID=df1$ID, start=df1$actual.date, end=df1$actual.date)
setkeyv(dt1, colnames(dt1))
dt2 <- as.data.table(df2)
setnames(dt2, 2:3, c('start', 'end'))
setkeyv(dt2, colnames(dt2))
indx <- foverlaps(dt1, dt2, type='within', which=TRUE, mult='first')
dt1[, match:= +(!is.na(indx))][,end:=NULL]
setnames(dt1, 1:2, colnames(df1))
dt1
#   ID actual.date match
#1:  1  1997-10-01     0
#2:  1  1998-02-01     1
#3:  1  2002-05-01     1
#4:  2  1999-07-01     0
#5:  3  2005-09-01     1
#6:  4  2003-02-03     1
#7:  4  2006-05-01     0

Solution 2

Here is a solution with dplyr

library(dplyr)
dat <- inner_join(df1, df2, by = "ID")
dat %>% rowwise() %>%
        mutate(match = ifelse(between(actual.date, before.date, after.date), 1, 0)) %>%
        select(-c(before.date, after.date)) %>%
        arrange(actual.date, desc(match)) %>%
        distinct(actual.date)

the output is slightly different because it order the actual.date, maybe this is a problem, I'll delete my solution if the case.

Source: local data frame [7 x 3]

  ID actual.date match
1  1  1997-10-01     0
2  1  1998-02-01     1
3  2  1999-07-01     0
4  1  2002-05-01     1
5  4  2003-02-03     1
6  3  2005-09-01     1
7  4  2006-05-01     0

Comments

[akrun]

You may use foverlaps from data.table

[michael]

does this solution incorporate an outer join of the data?

[michael]

does this solution incorporate an outer join of the data?

[michael]

something went wrong. I got the error messages: 1)Error in foverlaps(dt1, dt2, type = "within", which = TRUE, mult = "first") : length(by.x) != length(by.y). Columns specified in by.x should correspond to columns specified in by.y and should be of same lengths. 2)Error in setnames(dt1, 1:2, colnames(merged_combined_files12)) : 'old' is length 2 but 'new' is length 25. I looked at my data and there are only three columns showing: 'ID', 'start', and 'match'. And for 'match' there is a value of 1 for every single row

[akrun]

@michael If you look at both the datasets dt1 and dt2, the column names are the same. I am using the devel version of data.table. Did you get the error with the example data (which worked fine for me)?

[michael]

yeah, but i get the error using my data. I was going to use dput but I forgot how to use it and you deleted your comment in the other post

[michael]

Error in foverlaps(dt1, dt2, type = "within", which = TRUE, mult = "first") : length(by.x) != length(by.y). Columns specified in by.x should correspond to columns specified in by.y and should be of same lengths. > dt1[, match:= +(!is.na(indx))][,end:=NULL] >setnames(dt1, 1:2, colnames(merged_combined_files12)) Error in setnames(dt1, 1:2, colnames(merged_combined_files12)) : 'old' is length 2 but 'new' is length 25

[akrun]

@michael The command is dput(droplevels(head(yourdata,20))) for each datasets

[michael]

do i need to move the columns to the end of my real dataset? i noticed that foverlaps requires this.

[michael]

before you included columns in the dput function as well

[akrun]

@michael How many columns do you have in the original dataset?. We only need the start, end and also the ID columns as in my post

[michael]

movetolast <- function(data, move) { data[c(setdiff(names(data), move), move)] } movetolast(df, c("before.date", "end.date"))

[michael]

i have varying column lengths in d1 and d2. I need all variables from d1 and d2 in the join. I want it to be an outer join so using something like foverlaps(df1, df2, type = "within", nomatch =NA) would be better

[akrun]

@michael In the example you showed also, it has varying rows. 8 vs 7. What I meant is that you need to get only match column, for which you need start, end` and possibly ID columns. The end results can be joined later with the original datasets

[michael]

i have included sample data

[michael]

start - restatedperiodbegin end - restatedperiodended ID - cikcode actual- yearendeddate

[SabDeM]

@michael it join the data, I've used the inner_join function. I do know... when I developed the solution it seemed an easy way.

[michael]

Unrelated, but do you have any idea why the data in my column is deleted when trying to convert convert factors and chararacters to dates? for instance, i try df2$restatedperiodbegin <- as.Date(df2$restatedperiodbegin, "%m/%d/%")

[Lazarus Thurston]

I get the following error Error in mutate_impl(.data, dots) : Evaluation error: Expecting a single value: [extent=170].. when I use between and dplyr together. Basically your this statement does not work in the new version of dplyr. mutate(match = ifelse(between(actual.date, before.date, after.date), 1, 0))