st: RE: RE: reshape wide command without specifying all variables?

["Marino, Jennifer" <jmarino@fhcrc.org>]

Amber wrote:
*
Also, is there a way I can put a list of variable names into some sort
of "namelist" variable which I can use later?  (i.e. I would just type
"reshape wide <namelist>)  I know that there's some "syntax" command but
don't understand how to use it here.
*

Just FYI: the online help for macros is a bit on the minimal side. If
you're as novice as I am, you're better off starting with the
information under Programming in the User's Manual (v. 8: ch. 21, v.9:
ch. 18) and these nice, straightforward articles:

SJ-3-2  pr0009  . . . . . . . . . . . . . Speaking Stata:  Problems with
lists

        . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  N.
J. Cox
        Q2/03   SJ 3(2):185--202                                 (no
commands)
        discusses ways of working through lists held in macros

SJ-2-2  pr0005  . . . . . .  Speaking Stata:  How to face lists with
fortitude
        . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  N.
J. Cox
        Q2/02   SJ 2(2):202--222                                 (no
commands)
        demonstrates the usefulness of for, foreach, forvalues, and
        local macros for interactive (non programming) tasks

Macros come in handy when you're doing anything repetitive or anything
involving variations on a theme. 
 
Jen Marino

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