Re: st: Unable to use "replace" on specific values (but others work ok)

[Nick Cox <njcoxstata@gmail.com>]

// isn't allowed for comments typed interactively, but it's fine in a
do-file or program.

More to the point, these error messages were not exactly as Anna reported.

It's my impression that Anna commented on her code retrospectively,
and the comments were not part of the code originally, but naturally
we need her confirmation of that.

(Please use _full name_ in posting to the list, as requested in the FAQ.)

Nick

On Tue, Oct 16, 2012 at 1:19 AM, Tim <lists@timbp.com> wrote:
> The problem seems to be the comment on that line.
>  Using Stata 11.2 I get:
>
> . set obs 3
> obs was 0, now 3
>
> . gen var1 = .
> (3 missing values generated)
>
> . replace var1 = 13 in 1 // comment
> '/' invalid obs no
> r(198);
>
> . replace var1 = 13 in 1
> (1 real change made)
>
> . replace var1 = 12 if _n==2 // comment
> 2/ invalid name
> r(198);
>
> . replace var1 = 12 if _n ==2
> (1 real change made)
>
>
> Tim
>
>
>
> On 16/10/2012 10:36, Anna Reimondos wrote:
>>
>> Hello statalisters,
>> I am currently coding occupations of respondents in a survey to the
>> Australian New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations
>> (ANZSCO).
>> A rather odd thing is happening where I am able to assign the ANZSCO
>> code in some cases, but not others!
>>
>>
>> For example in the code below there is no problem assigning the value
>> 121312 to case 1, and no problem assigning the value 121314 to case 2.
>> However for case 3 who I want to give the code 121313 the code returns
>> an error message '121313 invalid name' r(198).
>>
>> clear
>> set obs 3
>> gen var1=.
>> replace var1=121312 if _n==1
>> replace var1=121314 if _n==2
>>
>> replace var1=121313 if _n==3  //Problem
>>
>> The problem is not just with 121313, but it also does not seem to like
>> 254499, 323112 and 821311 among others.
>> I don't understand what is happening!
>>
>> I am using Stata 12.1, but have also tried this in 11.2 and get the
>> same error code.
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