How can I view/show previously entered commands from a saved .dta file when operating in new Stata window?

[Adam Gasway]

I am having trouble location & showing the commands I had entered in a saved .dta file when I open the saved .dta in a new Stata window. That may not be entirely clear, so I will try to explain my issue step by step
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I am working on a project for my final essay. Yesterday, when I finished working in Stata for the day, I saved my work then closed the window. Today when I opened the saved .dta file, Stata returned ONLY with:
use "\\Client\C$\Users\my user name\Documents\name of file.dta

From my perspective, I cannot view or access any of the commands I put in yesterday. Stata is only feeding back to me that one line of code. I know that the data was in fact saved because the variables that I had changed yesterday are still showing up...just not how I arrived at them.

How can I view and show the work/commands I had entered (and had saved) in this new Stata window (after opening the saved .dta file)? Any help is greatly appreciated.

[Nick Cox]

Neither commands nor their results are saved with the dataset (unless the results were new variables that you did save, as you say).

The concept you need is that of a log file. If you didn't open one in your previous session, it's too late. However, and I have been using Stata a while,. I often find that a two hour session can be reproduced in about two minutes that focus on the most successful ideas, filtering out dead ends, repetitions and silly errors.

See

help log

If your teachers told you that the commands would be saved by save, then take that up with them.