On Sun, 11 May 2003, Ted Anagnoson wrote:
> At 02:42 PM 5/11/03 -0400, you wrote:
> >Hi,
> >
> >I have the following problems
> >
> >I have variable index which takes values from 1-10
> >
> >I have variables demand1 - demand10
> >depending upon the value of index, I have to select the value of demand 1
> >
> >i.e.
> >
> >if index==1, dem1 = demand1
> >if index==2, dem1 = demand2
> >if index==3, dem1 = demand3
>
Could I make a general observation?
I realize that some Stata users may feel that solving this problem by the
following is a bit too much brute force:
gen dem1 = demand1 if index == 1
gen dem2 = demand2 if index == 2
.etc.
But let me suggest a couple of reasons why this type of solution may be
preferable:
1. It is straightforward and quick to implement using the basic
facilities of most editors.
2. It can be much more time consuming to devise and debug a more
elegant solution.
3. When you look back at these statements, it is easy to see what is
happening. The code for a more elegant solution may be much more
difficult to decipher when you look back at your .do file in six months.
I greatly appreciate the inventiveness of solutions to problems that are
routinely offered on statalist. I have seen elegant solutions to problems
that cannot be solved in any simple straightforward fashion. I have even
used some of these solutions myself. But my point is that sometimes there
is a strong case for a quick, inelegant brute force solution.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Richard J. Stoll, Professor of Political Science and
Associate Dean of Social Sciences * Rice University
Dept. Political Science MS 24 * P.O. Box 1892 * Houston TX 77251-1892
E-mail: [email protected] * Tel: 713-348-3362 * FAX: 713-348-5273
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