Making the first row become Variable Names and Transposing the data

[Falco Wolf]

Hello,

How can I make the first row of observations become the Variable name?

I would also like to have the data in a panel format (altough it's only for one country), therefore, how could I transpose this to a panel?

* Example generated by -dataex-. To install: ssc install dataex
clear
input str52 A str12 B str37 C str14 D str18 E str17(F BJ)
"Country Name" "Country Code" "Indicator Name"                        "Indicator Code" "1960"             "1961"             "2017"            
"Italy"        "ITA"          "Inflation, consumer prices (annual %)" "FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG" "2.35016141377048" "2.05069731278691" "1.22653316645808"
end

[Mike Lacy]

I'd guess that you obtained this data with -import excel- or -import delimited-, in which case you should import again but use the -firstrow- or -varnames()- option. If for some reason that does not work, you can do this:

foreach v of varlist * {
   local vname = strtoname(`v'[1])
   rename `v' `vname'
}
drop in 1
destring _*, replace

As for your desire for a panel format, -reshape long- is relevant. For your example (thanks for using -dataex-), I'm presuming you want:

reshape long _ , i(Country_Code) j(year)
rename _ inflation