Issue opening dataset

[Danielle Noel]

Hi there. I am currently in a Data Analysis class and we have just started to learn how to use Stata. For my problem set this week, we have to use the dataset from this link, entitled "Data Set-Main": http://isps.yale.edu/research/data/d132#.Vfb4dCpViko. Unfortunately, when I download the dataset, my computer (MacBook) tells me that I don't have the application to open this kind of file. I've tried opening the CSV and using Excel and it still won't work. I cannot even locate the file when I'm in Stata. Does anyone have any advice or next steps?

[William Lisowski]

Welcome to Statalist!

When I download the file to my Mac, Safari saved it in my Downloads folder as Kalla_Aronow_PLOS_2015.dta and if I double-click on it, it launches Stata which opens the Stata dataset. Or, if I launch Stata and use File > Open... and navigate to the Downloads folder and select the file, the dataset is successfully opened.

Your experience suggests to me that you perhaps do not have Stata installed on your Macintosh. Is it the case that you are running Stata on a remote server? Perhaps your professor or TA or class notes or fellow student can advise you on how to access the file that is stored on your Mac.

Now then, here's a workaround to get your homework done this weekend. Selecting the file on my Mac and in the Finder looking at File > Get Info tells me where the file is stored at Yale. So in Stata

use http://isps.its.yale.edu/isps/public/Kalla_Aronow_PLOS_2015/Kalla_Aronow_PLOS_2015.dta

will download the file from that location and read the data into Stata.

[Danielle Noel]

Hi William,

Thanks for the welcome and for the advice! My professor has required us to download Citrix Receiver to use Stata so no, I don't believe the program is stored on my computer. Currently, I am having some service logon issues that I will have to speak to technology services about on Monday.

Thanks again!