<>
I can most easily explain (1), (3) and (4), but not (2). In (2), it does
indeed seem that the -if- qualifier is evaluated for the overall dataset,
and not with respect to the -by- groups. When I change the very last
observation in the -input- statement given by gjhxmu, a.k.a. Rose to "0",
the -total- statement all of a sudden does produce values instead of
missings...
**********
clear
input family   sex  
         1     1  
         1     1  
         1     1  
         2     0  
         2     1  
         2     0  
         2     1  
         2     0  
         3     0  
         3     1  
         3     0  
         3     1  
         3     1  
         3     0 
  
end
bys family: egen x=/*
*/total(sex) if sex[_N]==0  
list, noobs sepby(fam)
replace sex=1 in l
bys family: egen xx=/*
*/total(sex) if sex[_N]==0  
list, noobs sepby(fam)
**********
HTH
Martin
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected]
Sent: Samstag, 8. August 2009 11:40
To: statalist
Subject: st: what does _N mean under by varlist in the -egen- and -gen-?
Dear statalists,
I know that under by varlist: _N is interpreted within each group of
observations, not for the whole dataset. 
However, I found the meaning _N in the -egen- is a little different.
Take the following for example,
clear
input family   sex  
         1     1  
         1     1  
         1     1  
         2     0  
         2     1  
         2     0  
         2     1  
         2     0  
         3     0  
         3     1  
         3     0  
         3     1  
         3     1  
         3     1 
  
end
bys family: g x=sum(sex) if sex[_N]==0
bys family: egen xx=total(sex) if sex[_N]==0
bys family: g xxx=sex[_N]
bys family: egen xxxx=total(sex[_N]==0)
l,sepby(family) noobs
  +------------------------------------+
  | family   sex   x   xx   xxx   xxxx |
  |------------------------------------|
  |      1     1   .    .     1      0 |
  |      1     1   .    .     1      0 |
  |      1     1   .    .     1      0 |
  |------------------------------------|
  |      2     0   0    .     0      5 |
  |      2     1   1    .     0      5 |
  |      2     0   1    .     0      5 |
  |      2     1   2    .     0      5 |
  |      2     0   2    .     0      5 |
  |------------------------------------|
  |      3     0   .    .     1      0 |
  |      3     1   .    .     1      0 |
  |      3     0   .    .     1      0 |
  |      3     1   .    .     1      0 |
  |      3     1   .    .     1      0 |
  |      3     1   .    .     1      0 |
  +------------------------------------+
Based on the results, Obviously the meaning of _N in the first two is
different,
while the meaning of _N in the last two is the same.
Could anyone tell me why?
Thank you very much.
Best regards,
Rose.
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