Re: st: RE: ghost value label problem

[David Kantor <dkantor@jhu.edu>]

At 06:11 PM 10/29/2003 +0000, Nick Cox wrote:
> This rang a bell. A while back the problem was described in very
> similar
> terms:
>
> ========================
> Suppose you define value labels, attach them to variables, and then
> later change your mind about attaching labels.
>
> Even if you -drop- the value labels, according to Stata, for example
> the
> -describe- or -codebook- commands, the variables continue to have
> labels
> attached: it is just that those labels do not exist.
> [...]
Conversely, you can attach a label that doesn't exist.

 label val myvar xyz
doesn't care whether xyz exists as a defined label.

Furthermore, you can do this, and then define label xyz afterwards; it will 
work just fine.

But this behavior can lead to trouble if you make a typo. If I code...
 label val myvar xyx
where I meant xyz (and label xyz is defined -- either before or 
afterwards), Stata will not give me any warning.

-- David

David Kantor
Institute for Policy Studies
Johns Hopkins University
dkantor@jhu.edu
410-516-5404

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