The reason I said what I said is when I did:
. do "C:\DOCUME~1\waterb\LOCALS~1\Temp\STD02000000.tmp"
. local incidnsum
. sum incidn, meanonly
. scalar `incidnsum' = r(sum)
= invalid name
r(198);
end of do-file
r(198);
. help scalar
revealled some example on how to use scalar, where none was put in Stata quotes ` '. This led me to surmise that it is probably version issue of scalar syntaxes. But on closer look I realised that perhaps you are referring to may lax ( due to ignorance) use of -local- rather -tempname- in my -do- file, and consequently having to use -scalar- without `'. Is this what you meant by your warning? Although I think your warning refers to [P] Macro, I would appreciate if you can direct me to the pertinent reference in the manuals if this is assumption was not correct. Nevertheless, I have used your exact example using -tempname- and -scalar `foosum'-.
Regards,
bw
----------------------------------------
> Subject: RE: st: RE: RE: tabstat: how to save...
> Date: Wed, 10 May 2006 12:47:13 +0100
> From: [email protected]
> To: [email protected]
>
> No, on this detail you are wrong and version
> is not an issue.
>
> So long as you follow my example and issue
>
> tempname foosum
>
> then after
>
> su foo, meanonly
>
> scalar `foosum' = r(sum)
>
> is as valid as can be.
>
> You are correct that you can do what
> looks the same thing by
>
> sum foo, meanonly
> scalar foosum = r(sum)
>
> but to do that is to live more dangerously.
> If you do this, sooner or later you will
> get burned, or bitten, by use of the same name in
> different programs or use of identical
> or similar names for scalars and variables.
>
> The problem is aired in the manuals and
> rehearsed once more in a Tip by G. Kolev
> in Stata Journal 6(2), to appear next
> month.
>
> Nick
> [email protected]
>
> b. water
>
> > Thank you Nick for your alternative suggestion.
> >
> > In Stata 8.2, scalar `foosum' = r(sum) is an invalid syntax
> > but checking on-line help showed valid syntax as scalar
> > foosum = r(sum). This suggestion worked for my purpose and as
> > you alluded, shorter than tabstat.
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