Creating a new variable based on multiple existing variables

[Alice Clarke]

Hi!
I have a dataset with loads of variables. I am looking into factors associated with childhood development. For a child to be developmentally on track, they need to check at least x/20 variables depending on age. I want to make a new variable that for each child tells me if they´re developmentally on track (checks at least 15/20 variables for the age category I´m interested in). I have named the 20 variables I´m interested in "var1, var2, var3.." etc. How do I make a new variable for each child that tells me if they´re on track yes/no?

Thanks!

[Nick Cox]

In detail, the answer depends on how you are coding yes and no. If yes is 1 and no is 0 you can go

egen wanted = rowtotal(var1-var20)

If you're using some other numbers, some egen function like anycount() should help. help egen for more

If you are using strings, here is some token technique:

gen wanted = 0 

forval j = 1/20 { 
      replace wanted = wanted + (var`j' == "yes")  
}

If that's not enough to answer your question please visit https://www.statalist.org/forums/help#stata and give us more by way of detail.

[Alice Clarke]

Thank you!