st: run-together dates [was :... syntax; option real & varname ]

["Nick Cox" <n.j.cox@durham.ac.uk>]

VISINTAINER PAUL

Quick question.

I have a numeric variable (float) of the form:  19460515

The variable actually refers to the date, May 15, 1946.  Truncating
and
concatenating functions appear to operate only on string variables.
What
approach can I use to change this to the correct date?

>>>

Manual discussion: [U] p.287

FAQ discussion:

How do I convert date variables into Stata elapsed dates when
the numbers run together, like 4151999?
http://www.stata.com/support/faqs/data/dateseq.html

First principles approach:

. gen year = real(substr(string(date),1,4))
. gen month = real(substr(string(date),5,2))
. gen day = real(substr(string(date),7,2)
etc.

Canned solution:

. ssc inst todate
. todate date, p(yyyymmdd) g(sdate)

Recommendation: use the resources available.

Nick
n.j.cox@durham.ac.uk

*
*   For searches and help try:
*   http://www.stata.com/support/faqs/res/findit.html
*   http://www.stata.com/support/statalist/faq
*   http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/stata/