I have a project segmented into various "Task" folders, each containing folders for code, input and output. I am trying to use file level symbolic links to take output files from a particular task ("say, Task 1") and place them in the Input folder for the following task ("Task 2".) I used mklink to set up my symbolic link, however when I run STATA, even though the original output file updates, the target file in the next task's input folder does not update. I have tried switching to developer mode, moving my task folders out of synced drives (like One Drive and Dropbox), using soft and hard links, and running the command prompt as administrator. None of these have worked.
I read on stack overflow that when some programs save output by deleting the original output file and saving a new copy at the same path, symbolic links will no longer work. Since Stata uses "Save, replace", I am wondering if this is the issue. Since I do not run into this issue with R, and directory level links seem to work fine for Stata output, it seems that "save, replace" may be the problem. This is frustrating, as I would prefer to use file-level rather than directory-level links.
Does anyone know of a way to implement file level symbolic links that actually update for Stata output in Windows 11? More specifically, is there a way to update STATA output without having to replace the original copy of a file so that the symlink can actually work? Thanks!
I read on stack overflow that when some programs save output by deleting the original output file and saving a new copy at the same path, symbolic links will no longer work. Since Stata uses "Save, replace", I am wondering if this is the issue. Since I do not run into this issue with R, and directory level links seem to work fine for Stata output, it seems that "save, replace" may be the problem. This is frustrating, as I would prefer to use file-level rather than directory-level links.
Does anyone know of a way to implement file level symbolic links that actually update for Stata output in Windows 11? More specifically, is there a way to update STATA output without having to replace the original copy of a file so that the symlink can actually work? Thanks!
