Thanks, Martin.
Ben
On Mon, Oct 26, 2009 at 6:28 PM, Martin Weiss <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> <>
>
>
> The discussion does not hurt, though, does it? In fact, I think it raises
> awareness of such "fine points" -like the abbreviation of an option- for
> both future authors of ssc -program-s and users of the -program- in
> question. In addition, my initial complaint that started this thread about
> values not being constant within panels was well received by Ben. The recent
> update of -panels- seems to have incorporated a solution into the package...
>
> BTW: I love Ben`s packages, my "complaints" are intended as pointers to
> possible improvements of his brilliant contributions...
>
>
> HTH
> Martin
>
>
> -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
> Von: [email protected]
> [mailto:[email protected]] Im Auftrag von Nick Cox
> Gesendet: Montag, 26. Oktober 2009 18:17
> An: [email protected]
> Betreff: RE: st: AW: New -panels- package available from SSC
>
> While we can discuss, and even argue about, Stata conventions, one of
> the key points about user-written programs is that users are in charge
> in a double sense:
>
> 1. User-programmers get to choose their own syntax, subject to Stata's
> own rules.
>
> 2. Other user-programmers can change what they don't like, subject to
> constraints of etiquette and intellectual property.
>
> Or -- in short, if you don't like it, clone it and change it but don't
> claim it.
>
> Nick
> [email protected]
>
> Martin Weiss
>
> "Yes, it's hazardous. -panels- expects users know what they're doing."
>
> Another hazard could be the fact that a mere "r" is sufficient to allow
> Stata to overwrite existing variables which is not quite in keeping with
> the
> spirit of [U], section 11.2.2.: "To allow Stata to overwrite the
> dataset,
> you would type save mydata, replace. replace may not be abbreviated." In
> this case we are talking about a variable, not a dataset, but still...
>
>
> ***
> webuse nlswork, clear
> panels idcode, gen(mycount)
> //overwrite w/o prompt to user...
> panels idcode, gen(mycount) r
> ***
>
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