*! version 1.1.2    CFBaum/VWiggins 9812         (STB-57: dm81)
	prog def tsmktim
	version 6.0

	 syntax newvarname, Start(str) [ SEQuence(varname) ]

	 local offset 1
	 if "`sequence'" == "" {
		 local sequenc _n
		 local offset 1
	 }
	 else {
		 if `sequence'[1] != . { local offset = `sequence'[1] }
	 }

	 if real("`start'") !=. {
		 gen `varlist' = y(`start')+`sequence'-`offset'
		 format `varlist' %ty
	 }
	 else if length("`start'") > 7 {
* assume we have a daily reference; must do this before looking for m
		 gen `varlist' = d(`start')+`sequence'-`offset'
		 format `varlist' %td
	 }
	 else {
* process all other periodicities.
		 local period = lower(substr("`start'", 5, 1))

		 if !index("hqmw", "`period'") {
	  		 di in red "tsmktim cannot use start=`start'."
			 di in red "Start dates must contain q,m,w,h or a 3-letter month"
			 di in red	"abbreviation unless data are annual. Years must have 4 digits."
			 exit 198
		 }

		 gen `varlist' = `period'(`start')+`sequence'-`offset'
		 format `varlist' %t`period'
	 }

	 tsset `varlist'
end