Save Stata dataset labels when importing to SAS

[Clare McCarthy]

Hello,

I am currently trying to save a large Stata dataset and then open it in SAS - WITH all the variable labels and value labels in Stata. Whenever I do this just by regularly saving the Stata dataset (File-Save), I lose all labels when I import to SAS. Does anyone know a fix for this? (May be more of SAS question).

Thanks,
Clare

[William Lisowski]

This is indeed a SAS question. Your variable labels and value labels are stored with your Stata data within your Stata dataset's .dta file. If SAS can read your data from your Stata dataset, but does not read variable labels and value labels, it's SAS's problem. The SAS/ACCESS® 9.4 Interface to PC Files: Reference, Fourth Edition at the URL below suggests it does import variable labels and value labels.

https://documentation.sas.com/?docse...n1p81kxwasvg91

With that said, Stata also supports creating SAS Version 8 transport (XPORT) files, and will create a file SAS commands to create SAS value labels. My recollection is that SAS transport files had their own odd limitations, but perhaps this will be adequate for what you are doing. See

help export sasxport8

for details.

And if all else fails, the commercial product StatTransfer can often work wonders.