On Wed, 17 Dec 2003, Richard Williams wrote:
> In SPSS, I could do something like
>
> DO IF X1 = 1 and X2 = 3
> Compute Y = 3.
> ELSE IF X3 = 2 and X4 = 17
> Compute Y = 4.
> ELSE
> Compute Y = 5.
> END IF.
...
> In stata, ...
> gen y = 3 if X1==1 & X2==3
> replace y = 4 if X1 !=1 & X2 !=3 & X3==2 & X4==17
> replace y = 5 if X1 !=1 & X2 !=3 & X3 !=2 & X4 !=17
First point is to analyse the logic. Reforming a problem often speeds up
the execution far more than fancy coding, and leads to insights. In this
case:
gen y=5
replace y=3 if x1==1 & x2==3
replace y=4 if y==5 & (x3==2 & x4==17)
performs far fewer tests. The parentheses do not affect the result but
emphasise the logic.
Stata, as Nick has already replied, has a completely general control
language that includes if/then/else, for and while. Unlike SPSS, where
only data transformations can be put into DO IF and LOOP constructions,
Stata allows any statements or blocks of statements. These may
conveniently be written using an editor (provided it doesn't add a file
extension!) and saved as .DO or .ADO on the fly.
R. Allan Reese Email: [email protected]
Associate Manager GRI Direct voice: +44 1482 466845
Graduate School Voice messages: +44 1482 466844
Hull University, Hull HU6 7RX, UK. Fax: +44 1482 466436
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