Expanding on Martin's example, I think you want something like this:
**** Start Code ****
clear*
set obs 10000
gen x=rnormal()
gen y=rnormal()
centile x, ce(10)
local x10 = r(c_1)
centile z, ce(10)
local z10 = r(c_1)
gen y = 0 if x<=`x10' & z<=`z10'
replace y = 1 if x<=`x10' & z>`z10'
*etc.
****** End Code ******
The lines starting with -local- save the results from the -centile- command as locals. These locals can then be accessed by typing `localname'. Notice the left tick and right tick at the beginning and end of the reference to localname.
Hope this helps.
Howie
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Pancho Villa
Sent: Monday, July 06, 2009 4:01 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: st: RE: Converting a continuous var into a binary var
Thank you, Nick and Martin. I abbreviated my problem for simplicity.
So much that I'm afraid the feedback I got from you is not helping me
much.
Actually, my variable y is not binary, but categorical with more than
2 possible values. My y depends on the 10th percentile values of x
and z, respectively. (In fact, it depends on the values of other
variables, but that's not problematic. This is the simplest
description of my problem that can get me helpful feedback from you.)
So, it's more like this:
y = 0 if x <= 10th percentile of x & z <= 10th percentile of z
y = 1 if x <= 10th percentile of x & z > 10th percentile of z
y = 2 if x > 10th percentile of x & z <= 10th percentile of z
y = 2 if x > 10th percentile of x & z > 10th percentile of z
I found that I can do this:
centile x z, centile(10)
which gives me the 10th percentiles of x and z in the same output.
But I don't know how to invoke the result for each variable in my next
lines. Truly basic.
Thanks again,
PV
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