That's because the syntax is not properly specified. You must tell
destring to remove the comma then convert from str to num by using the
ignore option. See example below. If other characters were involved
like dollar sign, comma and period, you would specified: ignore("$ ,
.")
clear
input str10 malepop
"45,623"
""
"67,345,119"
""
""
"3406"
"56,670,986"
""
end
desc
destring malepop, gen(newvar) ignore(",")
desc
Hope this helps
On Mon, Apr 7, 2008 at 5:39 AM, Gauri Khanna <[email protected]> wrote:
> **Sorry for cross posting - having trouble with messages to Statalist.**
>
> Dear Stata list,
>
> I am trying to convert a string variable(malespop) to a numeric variable.
> I tried to the following:
>
> -destring malespop, generate(MalesNum)-
> -destring malespop, replace
> -destring males, gen(MalesNum) ignore(" ")
>
> but with each of these I got the following error:
>
> - malespop contains non-numeric characters; no generate-
>
> I tried to use -mvencode- but that did not work too. I tried -gen MalesNum=real(malespop) but got missing values for all entries!
>
> My data looks like this and has blanks in between for no values:
>
> SNo. malespop
>
> 1. 45,623
> 2.
> 3. 67,345,119
> 4.
> 5.
> 6. 3406
> 7. 56,670,986
> 8.
>
> I am trying to create a column total of malespop using -egen total- command and for more calculation.
>
> Grateful for your advice.
>
> Gauri Khanna
>
>
>
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