Arguments for .ado-file/program

[Ilia Karmanov]

Hi All,

I have some code that I have frequently pasted into various .do files. Instead; I would like to create a standalone program and add it to stata in the same way I would from ssc. However, I am having problems defining the arguments for the program.

I would like to have the following code:

corrstat JP_large JP_med, null(0.9)

Run the program (correlates JP_large, JP_med and gives me p-value under null that rho=0.9)

I believe the error lies in the very first part and so have included the beginning snippet:

"“
program define corrstat
syntax varlist, [null(real 0)] [location(string "$matrix")] [name(string "DEFAULT")]
preserve
* keep only the concerned variables
keep `varlist'
* number of variables
desc
local varnum=`r(k)'
…” "

[Nick Cox]

You don't spell out what Stata did and said. Do please read FAQ Advice #12.

Options taking string arguments don't have defaults, at least not so far as syntax is concerned. You can set up defaults easily by something like

 
if "`location'" == "" local location "$matrix"

but your syntax statement is illegal.