How to split string variable names

[Olivia Johns]

so i have a string variable like below:

var1
percent gdp: 1258
current account: 1216
exchange rate: 740

I want to split them so i can have the text and the number separate.

as in;

var1 var2
percent gdp 1258
current account 1216
exchange rate 740

any help please?

[Clyde Schechter]

Try this:

split var1, parse(":") gen(newvar)

You may want to subsequently -destring- newvar2.

In the future please use the -dataex- command to post example data. Run -ssc install dataex- to get it, and then run -help dataex- to read the simple instructions for using it. The data as posted would be cumbersome to import into Stata were that needed in order to try out some code to help you. When you use -dataex-, you make it possible for those who want to help you to create a perfectly faithful replica of your Stata data example with a simple copy/paste operation.