Not Stata Format When Merging Files

[Guest]

Hello,
I am relatively new to Stata and I am trying to merge two datasets. During this process, I keep getting the error message "Not Stata Format". Here is a brief example of what I am trying to merge. I am trying to merge the player's name and their contract information in one dataset with the corresponding name in a player information dataset:

Player	Contract Years	Contract Amount
Chris Davis	7	161000000

Player	Year	Age
Chris Davis	2008	22
Chris Davis	2009	23
Chris Davis	2010	24
Chris Davis	2011	25
Chris Davis	2012	26
Chris Davis	2013	27
Chris Davis	2014	28
Chris Davis	2015	29
Chris Davis	2016	30
Chris Davis	2017	31
Chris Davis	2018	32
Chris Davis	2019	33

Any thoughts?

[Sergiy Radyakin]

I am trying to merge two datasets.

when you merge your data files make sure they are in Stata's own .dta format.
if they are saved in any other format, Stata will not be able to merge them, even if it can import them.
in that case import the file and resave as dta from Stata before merging.

[Guest]

Hi. Thank you for your help! This may sound like a dumb question: so after I import one file, save it as a .dta, then import the next one, do the same, then merge? Thanks!

[Leonardo Guizzetti]

Please tell us that you have cross-posted this question to Reddit, as you are asked to do.

[Joseph Coveney]

so after I import one file, save it as a .dta, then import the next one, do the same, then merge?

No. Just the first. When you import the second into memory, it will be converted into a Stata dataset.