tabstat

[Jannic Cutura]

Dear All,

I want Stata to tell me the number of observation for a large list of variables by region. The first set of commands works:

*first set
tabstat `xvars', by(Region) s(n)
tabstat `raw', by(Region) s(n)

gen Region_n = 2
replace Region_n = 1 if Region == "Europe"

*second set
tabstat Region_n, by(`xvars') s(n)
tabstat Region_n, by(`raw') s(n)

The second set returns:

. tabstat Region_n, by(`xvars') s(n)
by():  too many variables specified

xvars and raw are variable list. The reason I run the second set is that the first set shortens the variables names to an unreadable format. So I hope to get the full variable name out of the second set of commands, but I get the error. Is there a way to overwrite this?

I have two regions and want for the variable lists know, how many I have by region. Seems like a straight forward problem?

I appreciate your help!

[Rich Goldstein]

it sounds as though the output format is the problem; if that is so, try adding "c(s)" as an option to your first set of commands

[Nick Cox]

It's easy and documented: the by() option supports single variable names only. To get what you want

egen group = group(`xvars'), label
tabstat ..., by(group)

[Jannic Cutura]

Dear Rich Goldstein

yes, sort of. The thing is, that it now does not print the variable names. See the attached graph. Do you know how I can tell Stata to still print the variable names?

[Jannic Cutura]

Nick Cox :
thanks for the hint. Maybe I am getting you wrong, but you suggested to group by Region right? This worked, but I still have the same problem now, in that I cannot read the name of my variables. Or am I completely misunderstanding your point?

[Jannic Cutura]

double posted sorry...

[Jannic Cutura]

remark: I just found fsum, which does want I want for my sum commands (that is print long variable names). is there something similar for tabstat?

[Jannic Cutura]

Second remark:

tabstat  `xvars' , by(Region) s(n) col(stat) varwidth(16)

sort of solves the problem. Using a the varwidfth command suggested by Clyde Schechter here:

http://www.statalist.org/forums/forum/general-stata-discussion/general/485147-tabstat-long-variable-names

in that sense: Problem Solved!

Thanks everybody!

[Nick Cox]

On #5: No, I didn't suggest that and I am at a loss to see why you thought that.

I am pointing out that if you want the argument of the by() option to be two or more variables, then that won't work; but you can overcome the problem by grouping those variables into one.