st: set obs equal to a scalar

[Jacob Wegelin <jwegelin@vcu.edu>]

In the example below, it is impossible to set obs equal to a scalar value 5, but it is possible to set obs to equal the same value 5 when it is stored in a local macro.  Why? Is there no way to set obs equal to a scalar?

. clear

. scalar define ObsPerPerson=5

. di ObsPerPerson
5

. set obs ObsPerPerson
'ObsPerPerson' found where integer expected
r(198);

. set obs `ObsPerPerson'
invalid syntax
r(198);

. set obs "`ObsPerPerson'"
'"' found where integer expected
r(198);

. local heyThere 5

. set obs `heyThere'
obs was 0, now 5


Jacob A. Wegelin
jwegelin@vcu.edu 
Assistant Professor
Department of Biostatistics
Virginia Commonwealth University
730 East Broad Street Room 3006
P. O. Box 980032
Richmond VA 23298-0032
U.S.A. 
http://www.people.vcu.edu/~jwegelin
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