Copy Variable Label, Generating a New Variable

[Ali Ahmed]

Hi, I got a 100 variables, each having a different name but not any sequence in the name. I wants to create another 100 variables by multiplying the 100 variables with a new variable called "ABC". I am successful in doing so easily with a simple loop (command 1) provided on one of the forums.

Command 1:

foreach var of varlist Ist variable name - 100th Variable name {
gen ABC_`var' = ABC*`var'
}

The command given above generates 100 variables each having their previous name starting with ABC_. However, the problem is that I also needs the "Variable Label" copied with new 100 variables from previous 100 hundred variables. I tried this with the given command 2.

Command 2:


foreach var of varlist Ist variable name - 100th Variable name {
labgen2 ABC_`var' "ABC_`labels'"= ABC*`var'
}

The command 2 provides Variable Label only "ABC_" However I needs the actual variable Label together with "ABC_" e.g. ABC_label1. I wish to get copy the variable label from the actual variable, combine it with ABC_ and copy it automatically with a new generated variable (for all 100 variables).

Help will be appreciated. Thanks

[Nick Cox]

It's best not to mix pseudocode and real code and to use CODE delimiters to show real code. As I understand it you want something like

foreach var of varlist <varlist> { 
       local lbl : variable label `var' 
       gen ABC_`var' = ABC * `var' 
       label var ABC_`var' "ABC_`lbl'" 
}

where naturally <varlist> needs to be filled in with your real list.

labgen2 is from SSC (labutil2 package), as you are asked to explain. FAQ Advice #12 says more.

[Ali Ahmed]

It's best not to mix pseudocode and real code and to use CODE delimiters to show real code. As I understand it you want something like

foreach var of varlist <varlist> {
local lbl : variable label `var'
gen ABC_`var' = ABC * `var'
label var ABC_`var' "ABC_`lbl'"
}

where naturally <varlist> needs to be filled in with your real list.

labgen2 is from SSC (labutil2 package), as you are asked to explain. FAQ Advice #12 says more.

Thanks Nick, It worked perfectly. I was expecting the solution from you. You are right, I should have clarified that labgen2 is from SSC. Thanks and have a wonderful day.

[smith Jason]

It's best not to mix pseudocode and real code and to use CODE delimiters to show real code. As I understand it you want something like

foreach var of varlist <varlist> {
local lbl : variable label `var'
gen ABC_`var' = ABC * `var'
label var ABC_`var' "ABC_`lbl'"
}

where naturally <varlist> needs to be filled in with your real list.

labgen2 is from SSC (labutil2 package), as you are asked to explain. FAQ Advice #12 says more.

Could you explain why did you add "*" after ABC? I don't understand this symbol.

[Nick Cox]

Multiplication