st: run through every values of a variable

[tashi lama <ltashi32@hotmail.com>]

Hello, 

    I have a variable broker_id in my dataset as follows...

broker_id 

6429

131

244

 

and I have to see if "555" matches any of the values in a broker_id. Now, I think I could use some technique like 

 levelsof broker_id, clean 

 capture confirm var "555" 

 

but I am wondering if there is a st. forward way to do this using forvalues loop like this

 

1. When I did forvalues i=1/_N {

                   if broker_id[`i']=="555" {

                    ........

 

I get invalid syntax. I am not so sure... Could someone explain?

 

2. I see that Nick has given a way to do this in stata resource and support page 

sysuse auto      

foreach i in 0 1 {
 whatever if foreign == `i'

}

  I tried to run this and got unrecognized command whatever in return. Is it because whatever is an obsolete command? Any idea....


Thanks, 

Tashi 		 	   		  
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