Convert multiple variables from str to int respecting regularities

[Marco Ven]

Dear all,
I have a dataset of two string variables: Input_address and Output_address. I need to convert them from string to int to save memory (about 100million rows).
The point is that some Input_address and output_address are the same, and I want them to remain the same also after encode the variables.
I mean, if Input_address (first column) is "hanb23bd4.."*, and in Output_address I have the same "hanb23bd4.."*, I want them to be converted into the same number once run encode.
I don't know how to do that.
Thank you in advance,
Marco
*fictitious example

[Jared Greathouse]

Look up the help file for the destring command

[Nick Cox]

I don't think destring applies here at all. The issue is to get encode producing consistent results. See multencode from SSC. I would apply trim(itrim()) first to each string variable to avoid spurious differences.

[Marco Ven]

Great! multencode is what I needed, thank you!