st: destringing values led to Stata recoding them as missing

[Suzy <scott_788@wowway.com>]

Dear Statalisters;

I have seven variables of over 300,000 observations each. Within each  
variable, I have over 2000 different  values.  These datapoints 
represent  specific codes - for example : (72200  = intervertebral disc 
disorder). Within each of these  seven variables, there are datapoints 
(values) with dashes or alphabets (Ie: 4109-  or V2389).  The majority 
of the values though, are purely numeric (23405). I used the destring 
option so that I could analyze the data and Stata treated all those 
datapoints that included dashes and alphabets as missing. Now there is a 
period . where there used to be a value.  I have two questions:

1. Will the restring option restore the datapoints?

2. How can I successfully "destring" these values so that I can include 
them in my analysis?

Any  help and/or specific code would be very helpful as I am only 
marginally competent with Stata basics.

Thank you!
Suzy


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