Stata 18: Error in FORMAT command

[Annamaria Balogh]

Hi,

When I format the numbers from 0.5 to <0.6 (e.g. 0.5, 0.5236, whether generated as float or double) with %9.0f in Stata 17, the number 1 is displayed.

In contrast, in Stata 18: 0 (zero)

Do you have any explanation for this?

[Nick Cox]

This isn't (obviously) an error in the format command, but I can confirm getting this; I too regard it as an error and have no explanation.

[Annamaria Balogh]

Nick Cox Thank you for your confirmation!


StataCorp, please correct the error or explain how to avoid it.
(still with the command format, not with round)

Thank you!

[daniel klein]

I confirm that the interpretation of %#.0f appears to have changed. You cannot get old behavior under version control. I agree that this is probably a bug.

about
display %9.0f 0.5236
version 17 : display %9.0f 0.5236

. about

Stata/BE 18.0 for Windows (64-bit x86-64)
Revision 15 Nov 2023
Copyright 1985-2023 StataCorp LLC

Total physical memory:       16.00 GB
Available physical memory:    8.30 GB

Stata license: Single-user  perpetual
Serial number: omitted
  Licensed to: daniel klein
               DZHW

. display %9.0f 0.5236
        0

. version 17 : display %9.0f 0.5236
        0

. about

Stata/BE 17.0 for Windows (64-bit x86-64)
Revision 14 Nov 2023
Copyright 1985-2021 StataCorp LLC

Total physical memory:       16.00 GB
Available physical memory:    8.29 GB

Stata license: Single-user  perpetual
Serial number: omitted
  Licensed to: daniel klein
               DZHW

. display %9.0f 0.5236
        1

. version 17 : display %9.0f 0.5236
        1

[James Hassell (StataCorp)]

Thank you for bringing this to our attention. This issue is due to a bug in the version of the Microsoft SDK that we use build Stata 18. This issue only affects Stata 18 and only on Windows. There is a patched SDK available and we have upgraded our build environment to address the issue. Look for the fix in the next executable update.