One needs to be precise when discussing string limits in Stata because
they differ depending on context.
For macros, character limits are not exceeded except in unusual
circumstances ( see Stata's help for limits :
http://www.stata.com/help.cgi?limits )
There is a 244 character limit for string variables and string
expressions which is restrictive if, for example, you wished to store
and process long bodies of text in Stata. But in this case, you might
be using the wrong tool for the job. Databases with varchar or memo
fields are happy compactly storing text and have an army of functions
including regular expressions to do sophisticated text processing.
It is attractive to do all one's work within a single programming
environment, but that can become a trap if one has to start employing
ugly kludges to do something some other environment was designed to
handle routinely.
--
David Elliott
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