reshape by saving variables names

[lamya kejji]

Hello everyone,

Could you please help me with this ?

I am trying to reshape this data:

* Example generated by -dataex-. To install: ssc install dataex
clear
input str4 year str2(month day) float(date dow) double bal float(rev exp exp_gen bal_gen rev_yy)
"2014" "01" "09" 132 4 22.79101800002 . .00672 0 . .
end

I woul like to keep these variables : year month day date dow, create a new variable named series, containing the variables names :bal rev exp exp_gen bal_gen rev_yy and a variable for the values of these last variables.

Thank you

[Nick Cox]

There is no obvious gain to reshaping this dataset. Why do you think you need a different structure?

[lamya kejji]

Because it makes it easier to process it in Excel

[Nick Cox]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5y6C-v5-j0

[William Lisowski]

Starting with the sample data you provided (thanks for using dataex!) here is some technique to start you on your way.

. rename (bal rev exp exp_gen bal_gen rev_yy) var_=

. generate long id = _n

. reshape long var_, i(id) j(variable) string
(note: j = bal bal_gen exp exp_gen rev rev_yy)

Data                               wide   ->   long
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of obs.                        1   ->       6
Number of variables                  12   ->       8
j variable (6 values)                     ->   variable
xij variables:
     var_bal var_bal_gen ... var_rev_yy   ->   var_
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

. rename var_ value

. list, clean 

       id   variable   year   month   day   date   dow      value  
  1.    1        bal   2014      01    09    132     4   22.79102  
  2.    1    bal_gen   2014      01    09    132     4          .  
  3.    1        exp   2014      01    09    132     4     .00672  
  4.    1    exp_gen   2014      01    09    132     4          0  
  5.    1        rev   2014      01    09    132     4          .  
  6.    1     rev_yy   2014      01    09    132     4          .  

.

[lamya kejji]

This is great, thank you William !!
Nice one Nick :D