Re: st: Should be simple yet ... how to write a function?

[Phil Schumm <pschumm@uchicago.edu>]

On Feb 18, 2009, at 4:03 AM, Fabrice wrote:
> Im a pretty advanced Stata user, but have a simple question I cant  
> figure out: how does one write a *function*, i.e. a program that  
> returns a value, and that can be called like local y = fct(x), where  
> x and y are numbers or strings.


You don't, at least not in Stata.  You can write a function for use  
with -egen-, however, while some users have gotten a lot of mileage  
out of this, most people who ask about writing their own functions are  
looking to make use of them in contexts where -egen- won't help.

Note that you *can* write your own functions in Mata.  Moreover,  
depending on what you're doing, Mata may offer other advantages as  
well (e.g., speed).


-- Phil

*
*   For searches and help try:
*   http://www.stata.com/help.cgi?search
*   http://www.stata.com/support/statalist/faq
*   http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/stata/