Richard,
Thanks for your very helpful response.
I'm using Stata 9.1 Intercooled for Windows and am trying to transition
from SAS, SYSTAT and SPSS (ugh).
Your response solved my problem to a point. I was not familiar with the
"webuse" command and was beginning my do file with a "gen" command
without having any data file open. Apparently in that case (but I'm not
sure), the "gen" and "local" commands do not initialize variables.
I can add the "webuse auto" command, but I'm wondering if it is possible
instead to have webuse open a null or temp data file. I would prefer
not to have my display cluttered by reference to an irrelevant data file
(like "1978 Automobile Data") if that is possible.
All I'm doing is a simple procedure that makes a distributional
calculation on a single set of one-case parameters to produce an
immediate statistic. I had hoped that routine could be accomplished
without having to open a data file. If not, at least you have given me
an option that does not require me to actually create a one-line
external data set and call it at the beginning of the do file.
So, do you know if it is possible to call a null or temp data file
instead of a real data set?
Again, many thanks.
George
