It only requires one step, but I think you mis-interpret what the
nquantiles() arguement means. The 25 you use means 25 quantiles (each
covering 4% of the data), not 25% of the data.
You might want to try:
xtile totdolarsqtl=totdolars, nq(4)
then totdolarsqtl will contain values from 1-4 indicating which quartile of
totdolars each observation belongs to..
Michael Blasnik
[email protected]
----- Original Message -----
From: "Deborah L. Rhodes" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, September 10, 2003 3:38 PM
Subject: Re: st: Re: requesting help for a newbie
> Thank you. I don't have hard manuals to follow and no previous
> statistical package knowledge. Please be patient. As stated, I am a
newbie.
>
> My first question: Does categorizing numerical data into quartiles require
> two steps or one? The original data(totdolars)is in dollar amounts.
>
> I have tried to go directly to the quartiles: (using both g and as noted
below)
> xtile totdolarsqtl=totdolars, nquantiles(25);
>
> I have the same problem if I try pctile to create percentiles to bring to
> quartiles. It seems the syntax should be similar.
> pctile totdolarspc=totdolars, nquantiles(1);
>
> I have substituted totdolars (my variable with original dollar amount
data)
> for exp, which according to the help file for "creating variables using
> percentiles" is "typically just another variable."
>
> Thank you in advance. DEB
> [email protected]
>
> At 02:49 PM 9/10/2003 -0400, you wrote:
> >I would suggest that you show us ewactly what you typed if you want
specific
> >answers.
> >
> >I'm not sure what part of "varlist not allowed" is confusing you -- it
seems
> >like an informative message. You must be using a varlist ( a list of
> >variables) with a command that doesn't accept one. If you look at -help
> >pctile- you will see syntax information for pctile, xtile, and _pctile.
> >None of them accepts a varlist although pctile and xtile want a new
variable
> >name followed by an equals sign followed by an expression (which could be
a
> >variable name, but not a varlist).
> >
> >Hope this helps,
> >
> >Michael Blasnik
> >[email protected]
> >
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Deborah L. Rhodes" <[email protected]>
> >To: <[email protected]>
> >Sent: Wednesday, September 10, 2003 2:32 PM
> >Subject: st: requesting help for a newbie
> >
> >
> > > I have searched the helpfiles with no success.
> > >
> > > I keep coming up with "varlist not allowed". Could someone please
advise
> > > me how to fix the error, but more importantly how to get to the
meanings
> >of
> > > various "error codes" in the help files. My searches on errors, error
> > > codes, varlist, and "varlist not allowed" proved fruitless. I've also
> > > checked FAQ and other resources. I'm trying to place my data values
into
> > > quartiles. Seems to be a two step process, first set up pctiles then
> > > xtiles, but I can't get past the "varlist not allowed". Thanks in
> > > advance. DEB
> > >
> > > Deborah L. Rhodes
> > > student, University of Southern California
> > > (Stata 8, if it matters)
> > >
> > >
> > > *
> > > * For searches and help try:
> > > * http://www.stata.com/support/faqs/res/findit.html
> > > * http://www.stata.com/support/statalist/faq
> > > * http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/stata/
> > >
> >
> >
> >*
> >* For searches and help try:
> >* http://www.stata.com/support/faqs/res/findit.html
> >* http://www.stata.com/support/statalist/faq
> >* http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/stata/
>
>
> *
> * For searches and help try:
> * http://www.stata.com/support/faqs/res/findit.html
> * http://www.stata.com/support/statalist/faq
> * http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/stata/
>
*
* For searches and help try:
* http://www.stata.com/support/faqs/res/findit.html
* http://www.stata.com/support/statalist/faq
* http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/stata/
