Richard,
Thanks for your very helpful response.
I'm using Stata 9.1 Intercooled for Windows and am trying to transition
from SAS, SYSTAT and SPSS (ugh).
Your response solved my problem to a point. I was not familiar with the
"webuse" command and was beginning my do file with a "gen" command
without having any data file open. Apparently in that case (but I'm not
sure), the "gen" and "local" commands do not initialize variables.
I can add the "webuse auto" command, but I'm wondering if it is possible
instead to have webuse open a null or temp data file. I would prefer
not to have my display cluttered by reference to an irrelevant data file
(like "1978 Automobile Data") if that is possible.
All I'm doing is a simple procedure that makes a distributional
calculation on a single set of one-case parameters to produce an
immediate statistic. I had hoped that routine could be accomplished
without having to open a data file. If not, at least you have given me
an option that does not require me to actually create a one-line
external data set and call it at the beginning of the do file.
So, do you know if it is possible to call a null or temp data file
instead of a real data set?
Again, many thanks.
George
--------------
Richard Williams wrote earlier:
What version of Stata? Here is what I get using 9.1:
. webuse auto
(1978 Automobile Data)
. gen param1 = .05
. display param1
.05
. local param1 = .05
. display `param1'
.05
Notice the left & right single quote marks for the local macro. Also,
note that the first display is equivalent to
. display param1[1]
.05
i.e. when you give only a var name to display, it prints out the value
of the first case.
-------------------------------------------
Richard Williams, Notre Dame Dept of Sociology
OFFICE: (574)631-6668, (574)631-6463
FAX: (574)288-4373
HOME: (574)289-5227
EMAIL: [email protected]
WWW (personal): http://www.nd.edu/~rwilliam
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