Id variable stored in double format

[Jags Tanw]

Hello Stata members,

I am analysing dataset in which pid is stored in double format. Since I want to merge different datasets (using pid) to create a single dataset, I need to know the "real numbers" in pid. I used recast command but it is of no help. Using "force" option also did not help as it convert values of pid into missing.

pid looks like below:

list pid in 1/10


pid

1. 1.0e+00
2. 2.0e+00
3. 1.0e+00
4. 1.0e+00
5. 1.0e+00
6. 1.0e+00
7. 2.0e+00
8. 2.0e+00
9. 1.0e+00
10. 1.0e+00

Can anyone help please?

Many thanks

[Marcos Almeida]

I suggest to use - tostring - command.

This FAQ may be helpful to you.

[Jags Tanw]

Thanks Marcos. I will try and let you know.

[Jags Tanw]

Dear Marco

Unfortunately, "tosring" command does not uniquely identify the pid values.
I did: tostring pid, gen(ids) format("%2.0f") and it generated the following. It just picked the first digit of pid value.

list pid pids in 1/10


pid pids

1. 1.0e+00 1
2. 2.0e+00 2
3. 1.0e+00 1
4. 1.0e+00 1
5. 1.0e+00 1

6. 1.0e+00 1
7. 2.0e+00 2
8. 2.0e+00 2
9. 1.0e+00 1
10. 1.0e+00 1

Many thanks.

[Marcos Almeida]

Please try with - format("%17.0f") - instead.

[Jags Tanw]

Thank you Marcos. Yes, I did with it but unfortunately it did not change the results.

[Nick Cox]

Your sample values are just 1 and 2.

. clear

. input pid

           pid
  1. 1e0
  2. 2e0
  3. end

. list

     +-----+
     | pid |
     |-----|
  1. |   1 |
  2. |   2 |
     +-----+

. format pid %2.1e

. list

     +---------+
     |     pid |
     |---------|
  1. | 1.0e+00 |
  2. | 2.0e+00 |
     +---------+

Please show us the results of

describe pid 
summarize pid

[Jags Tanw]

Dear Nick

Many thanks for providing me with the the codes. I will try and update you.

[Jags Tanw]

Dear Nick (and Marcos),

Yes, you are correct my values in pid (originally were) are 1 and 2 that is why string command was returning the values 1 and 2.
I have discovered that there has been error the way pid was generated.

Many thanks for your instant responses. Highly appreciated and very grateful.