One can add a refinement to this in the event the directory has
already been created (e.g. with a previous run of the program):
local name test_directory
cd C:\
capture confirm file "./`name'/nul" // check if `name' subdir exists
if _rc { // _rc will be >0 if it doesn't exist
!md "`name'"
}
// my do file
save "C:/`name'/current_data.dta" // optionally add -,replace-
Notes:
(1) "nul" allows you to use the -confirm file- command to check the
existence of a directory. Even an empty directory has a "device"
called "nul" that can be checked. (I'm sure there are others who can
give a better technical explanation of "nul" in this context)
(2) by using the ./ notation for the present working directory, the
code works from any directory location - avoid hard-coding paths
whenever possible and use relative paths - your programs will usually
work even if you move them and data to new directories. You just have
to edit the base path in the cd statement.
DC Elliott
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