st: Is there a simple way to change the storage type from str to numerical

["Maoyong Fan" <fan@berkeley.edu>]

Dear Friends:

	  I want to change the storage type of a variable in my dataset from str to numerical.  I have tried 

recast int admit_major, force
recast2 int admit_major, force

but get the error message 

admit_major:  int invalid
r(109); t=0.01 22:18:01

The variable admit_major is string type and looks like:

1
3 
4
5
.
.
.


To generate a new variable is a way out.  Could anyone give a simpler way for this?	

Warm regards,

Maoyong				


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