Re: st: re: egen with error after set obs erases obs

[Andrew Dyck <andrew@andrewdyck.com>]

Dave, I understand where you are coming from. When working from a
do-file this isn't really an issue but I've encountered this several
times while working with Stata interactively. When generating a dummy
dataset I'll start with something like this:

set obs 100
egen var1 = seq()\

But, as I often do, I hit the slash and return key at the same time
and an error is produced. Now trying to reissue egen will create var1
with zero observations. I'm sure there is a reason behind why this
happens but to avoid it, when creating a dummy dataset my first two
commands are:

set obs 100
gen var = 1

I create the variable to hold the observations at 100 no matter how
many mistakes I make typing and even if my fat fingers hit the slash
key, an error after -gen- doesn't reset the observations the same way
-egen- does.

Cheers,
Andrew

On Tue, Feb 8, 2011 at 8:59 AM, Airey, David C
<david.airey@vanderbilt.edu> wrote:
>
> .
>
> Thanks. I'm still confused.
>
> When I have the editor open, and I type:
>
> set obs 70
>
> the rows 1-70 are enabled.
>
> Then I issue the incorrect egen command, and those enabled rows revert to the state before the set obs 70 command was issue.
>
> I guess I would have thought the egen command would not interfere with the result, even if it were no data, of the set obs 70 command.
>
> Compare these command sequences below:
>
> clear
> set obs 10
> egen x1 = seq(), from(1) to(10) block(1)
> gen x2 = _n
>
> vs
>
> clear
> set obs 10
> egen x1 = seq() from(1) to(10) block(1)
> gen x2 = _n
>
> I would have thought the second sequence would still have created x2 for 10 obs. But it doesn't.
>
> -Dave
>
>
> > Not so, but it's not a very short story.
> >
> > First, your -egen- call is illegal. -from(1) to(5) block(14)- are all options. It is true that the error message is a little cryptic. But at the point of complaint Stata is prepared to see stuff matching
> >
> > syntax [if] [in] [, *]
> >
> > whereas it sees
> >
> > from(1) to(5) block(14)
> >
> > That does not match the syntax. In the absence of a comma, Stata chokes on the first token, namely "from", and interprets it as a illegal attempt to specify a varlist. Whether or not you have such a variable, such syntax is illegal, and you get thrown out of -egen- early on.
> >
> > You just need to specify the comma.
> >
> > Now in terms of your claim: You never had any data to erase.
> >
> > You started with no data, and -egen- never created the variable you asked; it didn't get that far.
> >
> > -set obs #- does not itself create observations when there are as no yet no variables; it is just a declaration of intent on your part acknowledged by Stata. The logic is simple: -set obs #- starting from scratch could not create observations because it would not know which variables to fill.
> >
> > Nick
> > n.j.cox@durham.ac.uk
> >
> >
> >
> >> I noticed these commands
> >>
> >> . set obs 70
> >> obs was 0, now 70
> >>
> >> . egen cell = seq() from(1) to(5) block(14)
> >> varlist not allowed
> >> r(101);
> >>
> >> result in 0 observations on my Stata 11 copy for the Mac. After the egen error, I should still have 70 observations. After doing this I have to set obs 70 again before proceeding.
> >>
> >> -Dave
> >>
>
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*
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