Re: st: RE: if command

[Cameron Hooper <chooper@umich.edu>]

Nick Cox wrote:
> -if- as a keyword is overloaded. The 
> two ways of using -if- you exemplify
> are not equivalent -- unless you have
> single observation datasets.
I have not been clear. I apologise. I completely agree that code should 
be readable.

Let me explain. I am not looking for a way to exploit some unique aspect 
of my data to make my code more efficient. So for example,

gen var1 = (fpi == "big") + 2 * (fpi == "small")

works, but only for these particular values.

I am asking a more general question. In stata can I test a condition and 
as a result of this single test generate (or replace) more than one 
variable? All of Nick's examples generated one variable as the result of 
testing one logical expression. In Fortran I can write:

IF (X.GE.10) THEN
  Y = 12
  Q = 78
ENDIF

Test once, set two variables. The only way I know to do this in stata is

gen y = 12 if x == 10
gen q = 78 if x == 10

I have to test x twice. Is there a way in stata to only test the 
condition once? I understand that "if exp {}" will not work.

Thanks.

Cameron.
*
*   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/