st: Re: Re: split, combine and verify datafile(s)

["Michael Blasnik" <michael.blasnik@verizon.net>]

You failed to properly reference the tempfile in your merge statement.  You 
should read up on using tempfiles.  The name of the tempfile must be 
enclosed in single quotes.

don't code this:
merge patid using "`file'_temp"


instead code this:
merge patid using "``file'_temp'"

tempfile assigns a local macro (that you name) the name of a tempfile (that 
Stata selects and you usually never see).  When you want to refer to the 
actual tempfile filename you need to remember to use the single quotes so 
Stata evaluates the local macro to give you the actual filename.

I think you added to the confusion by having using a macro as part of the 
tempfile name.  You don't really need to name your tempfile `file'_temp, you 
could just name it temp and Stata should take care of the rest.

Michael Blasnik
michael.blasnik@verizon.net

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Katsuhide Isa" <katu@ier.hit-u.ac.jp>
To: <statalist@hsphsun2.harvard.edu>
Sent: Saturday, June 18, 2005 8:18 AM
Subject: st: Re: split, combine and verify datafile(s)



> Michael,
>
> Thank you for your suggestion.
> Following your suggestion, I modified the original codes as
> follows:
>
> foreach file in sysdsn32 sysdsn33 sysdsn34 {
> use `file'
> sort patid
> tempfile `file'_temp
> save ``file'_temp'
> use sysdsn31
> sort patid
> capture drop _merge
> merge patid using "`file'_temp"
> save sysdsn31, replace
> }
>
> But when running these codes, I got an error, saying
>
> file sysdsn32_temp.dta not found
> r(601);
>
> What would be the problem?
> Or there may be any misunderstanding in my modification.
>
> Any suggestions welcome.
> Thanks in advance.
>
> K.I.
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