Using an external dataset in nl function evaluator program

[Soo Jeong]

Hi,

I am using function evaluator program for an nl command, and would like to call in an external dataset in the function evaulator program by merge command. However, whenever I put in merge command inside the function evaluator program, I get the error message

nlauto_extdta2 returned 110
starting values invalid or some RHS variables have missing values
r(480);

Here's the code I used:

program nlauto_extdta2

syntax varlist(min=4 max=4) [aw fw iw] if, at(name)
local price: word 1 of `varlist'
local cons: word 2 of `varlist'
local x: word 3 of `varlist'
local id: word 4 of `varlist'

*parameters
forvalues i = 1(1)2{
tempname b`i'
scalar `b`i'' = `at'[1,`i']
}


merge 1:1 id using autodata.dta
assert _merge==3

replace `x' = x `if'

replace `price' = `b1'*`cons' + `b2'*`x' `if'


end

where I execute this program with the following commands:

sysuse auto, clear

gen id=_n
gen x=uniform()
keep id x
save autodata.dta, replace

sysuse auto, clear
gen cons = 1
gen id=_n
gen x=uniform()

matrix ivals = J(1,2,1)

do nlauto_extdta2.do

nl auto_extdta2 @ price cons x id, nparameters(2) initial(ivals)

If I do not include the boldface part in the function evaluator program, the nl command would work and give me estimates, but once I include those commands, the error message appears. I would appreciate any ideas and suggestions. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Soo

[Nick Cox]

Duplicate question. Please go to http://www.statalist.org/forums/foru...luator-program for discussion.