Keep value labels after collapse?

[Jaycob Applegate]

Hi all,

I am trying to keep value labels for my variables after a collapse. I am in a, possibly rare, situation in which the labels are still relevant after the collapse. Long story short, I take a long format parent-child file, create unique variables for each child number, then collapse to a respondent level long format with child characteristics wide.

When I collapse, I lose variable labels and value labels. I used the following resource to retain variable labels: https://www.stata.com/support/faqs/d...with-collapse/ , but I am struggling to convert this into value labels. Any insight is greatly appreciated.

[Nick Cox]

See

help label

for label save. That is, save your labels to a .do file and then run the do file after the collapse to re-define the labels. You may find describe and ds useful to keep track of which variables have which value labels.

[Clyde Schechter]

In addition to Nick's excellent advice, you will also want to run a bunch of -label values- commands on your variables after you have done what he recommends. Although the advice in #2 will redefine the labels in the newly collapsed data set, it won't actually apply them to the variables--you have to do that separately.

[Nick Cox]

Indeed; that last step is essential.