I think you'll find that, under Stata 9, the -asveold- option creates
Stata 8 datasets, not Stata 7 datasets as required by your colleague.
That is probably why your colleague's Stata 7 is confused.
If you have access to StatTransfer, then that can be used to convert
Stata 9 datasets to Version 7. You can find out more about StatTransfer
at
http://www.stattransfer.com/
However, if you don't have StatTransfer, then one possible fix migth be
to use -outsheet- and -insheet- together with the -descsave- package,
downloadable from SSC. -descsave- is a Stata program that writes Stata
programs. It can write a do-file to reconstruct the types, formats,
variable labels, value labels and characteristics of a list of
variables. This do-file should work under Stata 7, 6 or 5.
For instance, if you type in Stata 9
. sysuse auto, clear
. rename displacement displ
. rename gear_ratio gratio
. descsave, do(auto.do, replace)
. outsheet using auto.txt, nolabel replace
then you should create a generic text spreadsheet -auto.txt-, containing
the names and values of the variables of the auto data, and a do-file
-auto.do-, which can reconstruct their types, formats, value labels and
variable labels. If you transfer -auto.txt- and -auto.do- to a folder on
your colleague's machine, and then type in Stata 7, 6 or 5
. insheet using auto.txt, clear
. run auto.do
. describe
then you should find that you have created a Stata 6 dataset in memory
similar to your old Stata 9 dataset. The precision of the transfer
process will probably not be as good as with StatTransfer, but will
probably be good enough for most people most of the time.
I hope this helps.
Roger
Roger Newson
Lecturer in Medical Statistics
POSTAL ADDRESS:
Respiratory Epidemiology and Public Health Group
National Heart and Lung Institute at Imperial College London
St Mary's Campus
Norfolk Place
London W2 1PG
STREET ADDRESS:
Respiratory Epidemiology and Public Health Group
National Heart and Lung Institute at Imperial College London
47 Praed Street
Paddington
London W1 1NR
TELEPHONE: (+44) 020 7594 0939
FAX: (+44) 020 7594 0942
EMAIL: [email protected]
WEBSITE: http://www.kcl-phs.org.uk/rogernewson/
Opinions expressed are those of the author, not of the institution.
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Mosca, Ilaria
Sent: 17 February 2006 15:01
To: [email protected]
Subject: st: Saveold option
Dear Statalisters,
I am working on a big file with a colleague, so we frequently have to
exchange our DTA databases. However, I have Stata 9 and she's using
Stata 7.
Although I save my databases with the command -saveold, she does not
manage to read the file and gets an error report that says -unrecognized
format.
What could the problem be? I tend to first save the files in Stata 9
(with command -save) and afterwards I save them for Stata 7 (with
command -saveold). When the file is saved in Stata 9, can it be "saved
back" in Stata 7? Alternatively, should I save the files already from
the beginning with -saveold?
Many thanks in advance for your help and suggestions.
Ilaria
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