destringing variables

[Martin Imelda Borg]

Hi I am trying to destring a variable. Then replace those variables with numbers eg

A = 1

B = 2




However I want the A and B to remain showing so as not to forget what 1 and 2 stand for. I found two ways how to do it. Are there any adv/disadv to any of the methods shown below




METHOD 1

Encode stringvariable, gen(encode_variable)

label list encode_variable

label define variable encode_variable “ 1 A, 2 B”




METHOD 2

Section B:




gen new_variable = real (string_variable)

replace new_variable = 1 if string_variable == “A”

label define string_variablelabel 1 “A”

label values new_variable string_variablelabel




Is this just multiple ways how to skin a cat?

[Carlo Lazzaro]

Martin:
you may want to consider:

 set obs 2
Number of observations (_N) was 0, now 2.

. g start="A" in 1


. replace start="B" in 2

. g wanted=_n

. label define wanted 1 "A=1" 2 "B=2"

. label val wanted wanted

. list

     +----------------+
     | start   wanted |
     |----------------|
  1. |     A      A=1 |
  2. |     B      B=2 |
     +----------------+

.

As an aside, cats (and animals in general) should never be skinned (we live with 4 cats!!) !!

[Nick Cox]

If you have string values such as A and B destring can't do anything but produce missing values. It's indeed encode that you seek here.