st: individual column/dataset properties

[Rafal Raciborski <rafal.raciborski@emory.edu>]

is there a way to impose certain restrictions on individual columns in 
a Stata dataset?  e.g., numeric values must be in the range [0,30] and 
integers or, for a SSN column, character values must be of the format 
XXX-XX-XXXX and, at the same time, must be of length 11.  if they are 
not, the user will be warned and the change/input rejected.

furthermore, is there a way to password-protect an individual 
column/whole dataset so that only authorized users can copy/modify it?  
a milder protection could be that one can make an unprotected copy of 
the protected column/dataset and modify the copy; a stricter protection 
would not even allow making changes in copies (or even copying in the 
first place).

i was thinking about something like:

-----------------
attribute command
-----------------

attr var1, range(0,30) & integer
attr var2, range(>1)

attr var3, format(nnn-nn-nnnn) & length(11)
attr var4, format(CC)  // meaning two capitalized characters

attr dir
attr list var1
attr drop var1
attr drop _all


------------------
protection command
------------------

protect var1 "password", mild  // default is strict
protect data "password"

protect // a general query whether password-protection exists
protect drop var1 "password"  // eliminates protection
protect drop data "password"


rafal


================
Rafal Raciborski
Graduate student
Department of Political Science
Emory University
301 Tarbutton Hall
1555 Dickey Drive Atlanta, GA 30322
404-378-9826 (home)
rafal.raciborski@emory.edu
http://www.roofoos.net/


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