Append and recode multiple datasets at once

[Octavio Aguilar]

Hi,
I am fairly new to stata and am trying to figure out a way where I can recode variables across multiple datasets and have the new recoded variables be saved into 1 aggregate data file. For context, I have 14 files all named: file_1.dta , file_2.dta, .... file_14.dta
For this example, I have a variable MCREV06 where the 06 is the given year



Code:

cd "/Users/octavio/Desktop/MEPS"
clear
foreach i in file_1.dta file_2.dta file_3.dta file_4.dta file_5.dta file_7.dta file_8.dta file_9.dta file_10.dta file_11.dta file_12.dta file_13.dta file_14.dta {
use file_`i'.dta
keep MCREV`num'
gen EVERMEDICARE=0
replace EVERMEDICARE=1 if MCREV`num'==1
append using file_`i'
save aggregatedatafile

}

[Phil Clayton]

Looks like you're on the right track. Here are some suggested changes:

cd "/Users/octavio/Desktop/MEPS"
clear
foreach i of numlist 1/14 {
use file_`i'.dta
keep MCREV`num'
gen EVERMEDICARE=0
replace EVERMEDICARE=1 if MCREV`num'==1
capture append using aggregatedatafile
save aggregatedatafile, replace
}

[Octavio Aguilar]

Phil, Thank you! This worked like a charm.