Re: st: why do I lose data, and changes my data when I create new variables and recode missing variables

["Svend Juul" <SJ@SOCI.AU.DK>]

Muuszls asked:
 
"why do I lose data when I create new variables and recode missing variables?"
 
and Friedrich gave the sensible comment:
 
It is impossible to answer your question "Is there something wrong
with how I save or open things?" because you don't show us how you
save or open your data. I suggest that you -summarize- gdivs after
each -replace- and other command that modifies your data to identify
the culprit. Maybe you are changing gdivs somewhere in your code
because a command is mistakenly applied to gdivs instead of the
intended variable.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
 
I don't know how you do things, but a strong recommendation is to
use do-files when making modifications to data. A modifying do-file
should start with a -use- command reading the data and end with 
a -save- command saving the modified dataset with a NEW name, thus
avoiding to overwrite original data:
 
------------------------------
cd "C:\the directory for this project"
use mydata1.dta , clear
 
    modifying commands
 
save mydata2.dta
------------------------------
 
Try that - and show us the full do-file in case you still encounter
problems.
 
Svend
 
________________________________________________________ 
 
Svend Juul
Institut for Folkesundhed, Afdeling for Epidemiologi
(Institute of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology)
Vennelyst Boulevard 6 
DK-8000 Aarhus C,  Denmark 
Phone, work:  +45 8942 6090 
Phone, home:  +45 8693 7796 
Fax:          +45 8613 1580 
E-mail:       sj@soci.au.dk 
_________________________________________________________ 

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