<>
The discussion does not hurt, though, does it? In fact, I think it raises
awareness of such "fine points" -like the abbreviation of an option- for
both future authors of ssc -program-s and users of the -program- in
question. In addition, my initial complaint that started this thread about
values not being constant within panels was well received by Ben. The recent
update of -panels- seems to have incorporated a solution into the package...
BTW: I love Ben`s packages, my "complaints" are intended as pointers to
possible improvements of his brilliant contributions...
HTH
Martin
-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Von: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] Im Auftrag von Nick Cox
Gesendet: Montag, 26. Oktober 2009 18:17
An: [email protected]
Betreff: RE: st: AW: New -panels- package available from SSC
While we can discuss, and even argue about, Stata conventions, one of
the key points about user-written programs is that users are in charge
in a double sense:
1. User-programmers get to choose their own syntax, subject to Stata's
own rules.
2. Other user-programmers can change what they don't like, subject to
constraints of etiquette and intellectual property.
Or -- in short, if you don't like it, clone it and change it but don't
claim it.
Nick
[email protected]
Martin Weiss
"Yes, it's hazardous. -panels- expects users know what they're doing."
Another hazard could be the fact that a mere "r" is sufficient to allow
Stata to overwrite existing variables which is not quite in keeping with
the
spirit of [U], section 11.2.2.: "To allow Stata to overwrite the
dataset,
you would type save mydata, replace. replace may not be abbreviated." In
this case we are talking about a variable, not a dataset, but still...
***
webuse nlswork, clear
panels idcode, gen(mycount)
//overwrite w/o prompt to user...
panels idcode, gen(mycount) r
***
*
* 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/
*
* 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/
