> -----Original Message-----
> From: David Kantor [mailto:[email protected]]
> Sent: Thursday, August 15, 2002 9:42 AM
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: st: syntax; option real & varname
>
>
> Hi everyone.
>
> I want to use -syntax- with an option, call it x1, which is
> to be allowed
> to be either a real number or a numeric variable. Thus, I
> want to combine
> these two forms into one:
>
> syntax, x1(real)
>
> syntax, x1(varname numeric)
>
> Is there an easy way to do this? I already have a solution,
> but I wonder
> if someone can point out a better way.
>
I would get x1 as a string, and then test it after your syntax line:
syntax , x1(string)
capture confirm new variable `x1'
if _rc {
confirm number `x1'
if _rc {
di as error "x1() must be a new variable name or a number"
error 198
}
else {
local isvar 0
}
}
else {
local isvar 1
}
This also sets the local macro isvar to indicate if x1 is a variable
name or a
number, in case you need to take different action for each... (Note, by
the way, that the text of your message suggests that you want an
existing varname; the syntax you give suggests a new varname. If the
former, just take the "new" out of the "confirm new variable `x1'" line.
Nick Winter
> syntax newvarname (numeric) , x1(passthru)
>
> local newvar "`varlist'"
> /* I captured `varlist', because I will now do several other -syntax-
> commands (which will wipe out `varlist').
> */
>
> local 0 ", `x1'"
> capture syntax , x1(real)
> if _rc {
> syntax , x1(varname numeric)
> }
>
> ////
> Thanks to anyone who has a better suggestion .
> -- David
>
> David Kantor
> Institute for Policy Studies
> Johns Hopkins University
> [email protected]
> 410-516-5404
>
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