Looping over numbers in local

[Thomas Mitterling]

Hey,

I want to loop over numbers of a list (in a local). The code looks like the following:

local lambdas 400000 100000 25000 1600

foreach lambda in local lambdas {

foreach x in b t {

[INDENT=2]gen test_`x'_`lambda' = .[/INDENT]

}

}

The code creates the (wrong) variables:
test_b_local
test_t_local
test_b_lambdas
test_t_lambdas

Where is my mistake? In a similar situation I use --levelsof-- in order to get the levels of a specific variable and safe them in a local. I also want to loop over them. Same problem.

Thanks in advance!

[daniel klein]

It is

foreach lmacname of local lmacname {
...

Best
Daniel

[Thomas Mitterling]

Thanks, but that's not what the documentation says (e.g. Method 2 of http://www.stata.com/support/faqs/da...-with-foreach/). Furthermore it seems to work if I use `lambdas' instead of local lambdas.

I'm currently just a bit confused because sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

[Clyde Schechter]

Pay attention to the difference between -foreach lmacname of ...- and -foreach lmacname in ...-. They work differently, but each one works as described in the documentation. The -of- and -in- are not interchangeable: they do different things.

[Thomas Mitterling]

Oh, you're right, sorry! Thanks for the hint!

The devil obviously was in the details...

[daniel klein]

But the site you cite does exactly say what I have said.

foreach l of local levels {
...

Note that it is not "the documentation", though. The latter is found typing

help foreach

and does explain how the command works.

Edit:

It appears emphasis using bold characters is not the best when used in code delimiters. Thanks to Clyde for just verbalizing the crucial point.

Best
Daniel

[Thomas Mitterling]

Yes, I didn't see the "of". Bold character don't really work in code delimiters (only if you look closely).

I didn't know how to call it instead of "documentation". I thought it should at least come close.

Well, problem is solved, thanks to both of you for your help!