{smcl}
{bf:Mata course:  Two Matas}
{hline}

{title:There are two -mata- commands}


        1.  . {cmd:mata}

                  {c TLC}{c -}{c TRC}
        2.  . {cmd:mata}{c |}{cmd::}{c |}
                  {c BLC}{c -}{c BRC}
                         {it:(notice the colon)}


{title:What's the difference?}

	{com}. mata
	{txt}{hline 29} mata (type {cmd:end} to exit) {hline 3}
	{com}: make a mistake
	{err}invalid expression
	{txt}{search r(3000):r(3000);}

	{com}: {txt}{it:(We are still in Mata)}

	{com}: end
	{txt}{hline 58}


    and

	{com}. mata:
	{txt}{hline 29} mata (type {cmd:end} to exit) {hline 3}
	{com}: make a mistake
	{err}invalid expression
	{txt}{hline 58}
	{search r(3000):r(3000);}

	{com}. {txt}{it:(We are back to Stata)}


{p 4 4 2}
Recommendation:

        1.  Use {cmd:mata} interactively

                    {c TLC}{c -}{c TRC}
        2.  Use {cmd:mata}{c |}{cmd::}{c |} in ado-files and do-files
                    {c BLC}{c -}{c BRC}



{hline}
{bf:{view talk.smcl:Top}}