Line continuation in the shell command

[Daniel Feenberg]

I am looking for a way to continue a shell escape on another line. Here is an example of what happens when I use /// to continue the line:

. ! echo asdf ///
asdf ///

As you can see, the /// seems to be taken as part of the shell command. I also tried /*<cr>*/. and note that -winexec- and -shell- behave in the same way. There is a space before the /// and none after, so that isn't the problem. Interestingly enough, the text of the command is scanned for macros, and macro substitution does take place. I am working with Stata 15 in Windows and Linux.

.

[Mike Lacy]

I don't know about a continuation, but what about putting your second line into a local macro?

local next "Now is the time for all good persons to come to the aid of their party."
!echo `next'

[Iuri Gavronski]

I believe the poster is asking for a way to break a line in an bash "echo" output. I would recommend:

!echo "line 1\nline 2"

Best regards.

[William Lisowski]

I believe the problem is that you typed a line continuation "///" into Stata's Command window. Line continuation is not supported in the command window, only in do-files and ado-files and the like.

. ! echo asdf ///

asdf ///

. xkyz
command xkyz is unrecognized
r(199);

. do "/var/folders/xr/lm5ccr996k7dspxs35yqzyt80000gp/T//SD63849.000000"

. ! echo asdf ///
> xkyz

asdf xkyz

. 
end of do-file

.

[Daniel Feenberg]

I never thought of that. Yes, you are right, it does work in a do file. Thanks.