Notice: On April 23, 2014, Statalist moved from an email list to a forum, based at statalist.org.
From | Nick Cox <njcoxstata@gmail.com> |
To | "statalist@hsphsun2.harvard.edu" <statalist@hsphsun2.harvard.edu> |
Subject | Re: st: import excel and value labels |
Date | Wed, 11 Dec 2013 10:47:17 +0000 |
As Daniel explained, this is standard behaviour. I see a case for documenting as you ask only if it's done in the same way for all such -clear- options. Nick njcoxstata@gmail.com On 11 December 2013 10:26, A Loumiotis <antonis.loumiotis@gmail.com> wrote: > I would like to add though that perhaps there should be a modification > in the help file of -import excel, clear- so that it is also stated > that not only the data but also the value labels are cleared from > memory before loading the excel file. > > On Wed, Dec 11, 2013 at 12:15 PM, A Loumiotis > <antonis.loumiotis@gmail.com> wrote: >> Thank you Daniel for your explanation. I see now that -import excel, >> clear- will first clear any existing data and value labels from memory >> and then load the excel file. >> Best, >> Antonis >> >> >> On Wed, Dec 11, 2013 at 11:39 AM, daniel klein >> <klein.daniel.81@gmail.com> wrote: >>> Since you -clear- the memory by specifying the respective option, it >>> seems natural to me. It is the same as >>> >>> clear >>> la de foo 1 "foo" >>> sysuse auto ,clear >>> la li foo >>> >>> However, defined value labels are also cleared if we do not sepcify >>> the -clear- option. >>> >>> clear >>> la de foo 1 "foo" >>> sysuse auto >>> la li >>> >>> This makes me wonder about the "status" of value labels. They >>> obviously are not regarded as changes to the dataset -- otherwise >>> there would be therespective error message and return code r(4) . One >>> migth argue that there should be a similar error message to remind you >>> of the fact that you are about to lose your defined value labels - but >>> cerainly not if you explicitly specified a -clear- option. >>> >>> See -label save- for a way to preserve the value labels before >>> importing a dataset. >>> >>> Best >>> Daniel >>> >>> -- >>> I noticed that whenever I load an excel file in Stata using -import >>> excel- the existing values labels are deleted. Is this the normal >>> behavior of -import excel-? >>> >>> Here is an example: >>> >>> . label define test 1 "yes" 2 "no" >>> >>> . label l test >>> test: >>> 1 yes >>> 2 no >>> >>> . import excel book1.xlsx, clear first >>> >>> . label l test >>> value label test not found >>> r(111); >>> * >>> * For searches and help try: >>> * http://www.stata.com/help.cgi?search >>> * http://www.stata.com/support/faqs/resources/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/faqs/resources/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/faqs/resources/statalist-faq/ * http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/stata/