Re: st: RE: RE: obvious error?

[Scott Cunningham <scunning@gmail.com>]

also didn't know this either, so thank you.  Extremely helpful. -sc
On Oct 18, 2005, at 1:54 PM, Nick Cox wrote:

> Another point is that your local macros
> must be in the same space as that in which your
> -xi: xtreg- command is issued. One of the earliest
> lessons in Stata programming is that -local- macros
> are precisely named. But I've occasionally
> been bitten by this in the following form:
>
> I'm defining local macros in code
> in the do-file editor and doing something
> else in the Command window.
>
> Then I forget momentarily that the local macros are
> invisible to the main session.
>
> The following experiment makes the point.
>
> Type
>
> local foo "foo"
>
> in the Do-file editor and then run the code.
> This command will be echoed to the Results
> window but
>
> . di "`foo'"
>
> will just show an empty string [a new line,
> strictly] while
>
> . mac li
>
> will show no -foo-. That is because the code
> in the do-file editor counts as a separate
> program and what you just defined exists
> only in its own space.
>
> This isn't a major problem, but it's a small
> test of understanding.
>
> P.S. for those who know it, -c_local- is
> a work-around. If you don't know it, you
> shouldn't want to ask.
>
> Nick
> n.j.cox@durham.ac.uk
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: owner-statalist@hsphsun2.harvard.edu
> > [mailto:owner-statalist@hsphsun2.harvard.edu]On Behalf Of Nick Cox
> > Sent: 18 October 2005 18:39
> > To: statalist@hsphsun2.harvard.edu
> > Subject: st: RE: obvious error?
> >
> >
> > The best test here that you and Stata
> > are speaking the same language is to
> >
> > . mac li
> >
> > to see what Stata is holding in local
> > macros. If you typed, as stated here,
> >
> > . local x1lsr age age2 hgc
> >
> > then the local macro -x1lsr- will
> > hold "age age2 hgc" and it is entirely
> > possible that the local macro -x1-
> > is not defined.
> >
> > But I can't see what is wrong with
> > your other example.
> >
> > Stata is not _asking_ for last estimates.
> > It can't see any variable names, so is
> > presuming that you are asking for a replay;
> > but it can't oblige, as it cannot find
> > the last estimates from that command.
> >
> > Nick
> > n.j.cox@durham.ac.uk
> >
> > Scott Cunningham
> >
> >
> > > This is stumping me.  Here's a sample of my code and the error I'm
> > > getting.  I know I'm doing some obviously wrong, but it's
> > so obvious
> >
> > > that I can't see it.
> > >
> > > . local y rp
> > > . local x1lsr age age2 hgc
> > > . local x3 lsr age age2 hgc i.year state*
> > >
> > > . xi: xtreg `y' `x1', fe i(id) robust
> > > last test not found
> > > r(302);
> > >
> > > I get the same error even when I run the following regression:
> > >
> > > . xi: xtreg `y' `x3', fe i(id) robust
> > > last estimates not found
> > > r(301);
> > >
> > > So I know it's not just the fact that I'm using the -xi- operator
> > > without including the year dummies for the first FE
> > regression.  Why
> >
> > > is it asking me for "last estimates"?
> > *
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