program define loopdef
*! version 1.1.1  STB-37 ip17

   qui version
   local i = max(4, _result(1))
   version `i'.0     /* use Version 5.0, if possible */
   local options "Append Macro(string)"
   parse "`*'"

   if "`macro'" == "" { local macro "LOOP_CMD" }
   local op "Appending to "
   if "`append'" == "" {
      local op "Replacing "
      global `macro'
   }

   noi di in bl "`op'" "`macro'"
   #delimit ;
   noi di in bl
      "Enter: command <Return> command <Return> ... command <Return><Return>";
   #delimit cr
   while 1 {
      di in bl ">" _request(_LOOP__)
      if "`LOOP__'" == "" { exit }
      global `macro' "${`macro'};`LOOP__'"
   }
end