Wikipedia to the rescue.
"The term magic number also refers to the bad programming practice of
using numbers directly in source code without explanation. In most
cases this makes programs harder to read, understand, and maintain.
Although most guides make an exception for the numbers zero and one,
it is a good idea to define all other numbers in code as named
constants."
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_number_(programming)
On Thu, Nov 6, 2008 at 11:07 AM, Friedrich Huebler <[email protected]> wrote:
> Joseph,
>
> Could you please explain the meaning of "magic numbers"?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Friedrich
>
> On Thu, Nov 6, 2008 at 11:00 AM, Joseph Coveney <[email protected]> wrote:
>> Ashim Kapoor wrote:
>>
>> Re: st: Reshape limit
>>
>> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> Ashim Kapoor wrote:
>>
>> I have 3 variables value , j1 and j2.
>>
>> j1 goes from 1 to 3
>> j2 goes from 1 to 10032
>>
>> and the data is in long form.
>>
>> When I say reshape wide value,i(j1) j(j2)
>>
>> Stata says that I have too many values for j2.
>>
>> saying -help limits- or -help reshape- does not enlighten me.
>>
>> can someone point me in the right direction ?
>>
>> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> If you haven't done so already, be sure to -set maxvars- to what you'll
>> need.
>>
>> I don't know whether -reshape- has a limit smaller than 32767 variables, but
>> if so then you can do the reshape in batches, each of which individually is
>> small enough for -reshape- to handle, assembling the pieces with -merge-.
>> The do-file below shows how it's done. Pardon the use of magic numbers.
>>
>> Joseph Coveney
>>
>> clear *
>> set more off
>>
>> set maxvar 32767
>>
>>
>> // Create dummy dataset for illustration
>> set obs 10032
>> generate byte j1 = .
>> generate int j2 = _n
>> generate float value = runiform()
>>
>> tempfile dataset
>> save `dataset', emptyok
>>
>> replace j1 = 1
>> forvalues j1 = 2/3 {
>> append using `dataset'
>> replace j1 = `j1' if missing(j1)
>> }
>>
>>
>> // Reshape in small batches
>> sort j2
>> save `dataset', replace
>>
>> tempfile Accumulator
>> local last_N 0
>> local first_pass 1
>> quietly forvalues this_N = 1881(1881)30096 {
>>
>> use `dataset'
>> keep in `=`last_N' + 1' / `this_N'
>> local last_N `this_N'
>>
>> reshape wide value, i(j1) j(j2)
>>
>> if (`first_pass') {
>> save `Accumulator'
>> local first_pass 0
>> }
>> else {
>> sort j1
>> merge j1 using `Accumulator'
>> assert _merge == 3
>> drop _merge
>> sort j1
>> save `Accumulator', replace
>> }
>>
>> }
>>
>> use `Accumulator', clear
>> exit
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