Ernest Berkhout
> >I am trying to merge two datasets which have the same
> variable coded
> >differently in each.
> >
> >In dataset 1, the variable is 6 digits, with the first
> digit being a zero.
> >
> >in dataset 2, the same variable is 5 digits, and the first
> digit (which
> >should be a zero) as been truncated.
> >
> >Does anyone know how to add a zero to the variable in the
> second dataset?
>
> I take it that both matchvars are string variables.
> Otherwise there would
> be no problem at all as the difference would be just in the
> formatting. If,
> as you suggest, in dataset 1 there is always a zero first, its more
> efficient to get rid of that one. This implies creating a
> str5 variable
> using the string finction substr(matchvar1,2,5). See -help substr-
Ernest apologised for sending this, but it's
a good solution.
However, to be hyper-cautious, what if -- contrary
to expectation -- the first character is not always
"0"? My best answer is that it is easy to check:
. assert substr(matchvar1,1,1) == "0"
No news is good news. If Stata confirms this assertion,
it says nothing. If it is false, in even one observation,
Stata will protest.
Nick
[email protected]
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