creating new variable

[Nene Anok]

Hi all,

I would like to generate a new variable from 2 variables: b_macob and b_pacob

i input :

generate S = (if b_pacob >=5 | if b_macob >=5)

however it returns "ifb_pacob not found"

please what is my mistake and how do i fix it?

[Carlo Lazzaro]

Nene:
welcome to this forum.
Your Stata code is illegal;

. use "C:\Program Files\Stata17\ado\base\a\auto.dta"
(1978 automobile data)

. gen wanted=(if price >=5 | if mpg >=5)
ifprice not found
r(111);

You should try something along the following lines, I guess:

. gen wanted=price if price>=5

. replace wanted=mpg if mpg >=5

[Nene Anok]

thank you Carlo!

[George Ford]

Or just exclude the "if" part in your command.

generate S = (b_pacob >=5 | b_macob >=5)

[Carlo Lazzaro]

Nene:
George's helpful code is more efficient than mine.

[Nick Cox]

Note that

b_pacob >=5 | b_macob >=5 will return 1 if either variable is missing (or both).

[Carlo Lazzaro]

Nick:
yes, I saw it and wondered what kind of indicator the original poster was after.
I'm probably becoming a tad old-fogey (and increasingly so) as time goes by, but I still prefer to go step-by-step when it comes to derive variables from other variables.

[Nick Cox]

Carlo Lazzaro Compare Wyatt Earp: Fast is fine, but accuracy is final (various mutations are reported).

[Carlo Lazzaro]

Carlo Lazzaro Compare Wyatt Earp: Fast is fine, but accuracy is final (various mutations are reported).

Thanks for that, Nick.
Various versions indeed.
An old Italian saying, which sounds as the opposite of today's hectic (and often unhealthy) lifestyles, goes like that (+/-): "Who goes slowly, goes healthy and far".