Re: st: How to merge 2 datasets using 2 unique variables

[Robin Newberry <wnewber@CLEMSON.EDU>]

When I try to convert one set of SSN to strings ("string(v14)") I get 
an "unrecognized command: string" error.

I went back to re-import the data (comma delimited file, all fields 
enclosed in quotes), but for some reason it imports as a number even 
though the in the originating file it's "#########".




> Robin Newberry wrote:
> >  >  I recommend to use strings.
> >
> >  Hmmmm. OK then - how do I put the hyphens into the non-hyphenated string?
> No, no. Don't put hyphens into the numbers. Just tread the numbers as strings.
> In your non-hyphenated dataset type something like
>
> . ren ssn ssnreal
> . destring ssnreal, generate(ssn)
> . sort ssn
> . save foo, replace
>
> and than merge.
>
> The reason for my recommendation, btw is, that numbers with many digits like
> the SSN, can get obscured by the storage-type "float". I generally use
> string-variables for unique-identifiers therefore ...
>
> uli
>
>
> --
> kohler@wz-berlin.de
> +49 (030) 25491-361
>
>
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--
Robin
--------------------------------------------------------------
W. Robert Newberry, IV CIH, CHMM
Chief Environmental Health and Safety Officer
Clemson University

wnewber@clemson.edu  ehs@clemson.edu
http://ehs.clemson.edu/
*
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*   http://www.stata.com/support/statalist/faq
*   http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/stata/