Re: st: Working with the name of the do file

[Eric DeRosia <ederosia@byu.edu>]

Nick wrote:
"Why would this make a .do file easier to use and maintain?"

Because it would obviate the need to manually edit a do file to rename 
the log file (and similar tasks, as shown in the example in my OP).  In 
terms of workflow, manual editing is inefficient and, more importantly, 
it is an opportunity for errors (e.g., data-entry mistakes) to enter 
into the process.

This functionality would not be useful in every situation, but it would 
have been a handy tool for some situations.  When a SAS code file is run 
in batch mode, the default name of the log file it creates is <name of 
the SAS code file>.log.  That's something I miss about SAS (probably the 
only thing I miss about SAS).


Daniel wrote:
"Old, but maybe this helps: 
http://www.stata.com/statalist/archive/2007-08/msg00556.html";

Thanks, Daniel, for pointing me to that post!  I didn't find it in my 
searching.

The post suggests passing the filename as an additional parameter each 
time the do file is called, but I don't think that work-around would 
make my workflow easier or less prone to mistakes.  Oh well, at least I 
know I'm not the only one who has wished for this functionality.


- Eric

Eric DeRosia, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Business Management
Marriott School of Management
Brigham Young University
671 TNRB
Provo, Utah 84602
(801)473-5051
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