Embedding double quotes inside a macro argument...

[Eric Steinmann]

Hi Everyone,
I just made a quick example of the issues in my current program. I'm having the hardest time figuring this out. I've tried every combination of double quotes/embedding options. If I double quote in the program call line, the argument (where_1) goes unrecognized. Any suggestions here? This seems so daarrrrn simple...


cap program drop auto_test
program define auto_test
args where_1 where_2
sysuse auto, clear

g test_var1 = `"keep if make="AMC Concord""'
ta test_var1
g test_var2= `where_1'
ta test_var2
`where_1'
`where_2'
end

auto_test `"keep if make="AMC Concord""' "keep if price>=5000"

[Nick Cox]

I see two problems with your code. The first is the line

g test_var2= `where_1'

which should be

g test_var2= `"`where_1'"'

as you need to reinstate the delimiters which were stripped when the program read its arguments.

The second is the line

keep if make="AMC Concord"

which is just text the first two times you use it, but an illegal command when you try to execute it as you need == not =.

For debugging, use

macro list

to get Stata to show you the macros it knows.

Please change your identifier to a given name and family name, Eric. See the FAQ for how to do this.

[Eric Steinmann]

Thanks Nick Cox, it was the `"`where_1'"' I was really looking for. I definitely tried that variation, but the bug was in the display command (which I generally use to list the macros). Changing my name now.