Statistics 8

Basic Biostatistics

There are two kinds of Data Files

Files that end with .dct are ASCII files and are easy to edit and save. You read them into STATA using

infile using filename.dct

Files that end with .dta are BINARY files and can not be easily edited. You must be careful when you save them as well. (See instructions below.) You read them into STATA using

use filename.dta

Some hints on saving data from the class homepage to your computer

If you click on the data set and it does not save to your desktop or ask you where to save the file, try the following:

On unix/linux systems, with the third mouse button click on the dataset (for assignment one, homeruns.dta). You then should be asked where to save the data. Save it to the desktop.

On MACs, click and hold the mouse on the dataset (for assignment one, homeruns.dta). You then should be asked where to save the data. Save it to the desktop. (Also see the additional step for MAC users below.)

On PCs, click the right mouse button on the dataset (for assignment one, homeruns.dta). You then should be asked where to save the data. Save it to the desktop.

Additional Step for MAC users

When you take data from the class web site, you need to tell Stata that the data set is of type Stata (i.e., you have to remind it that it is supposed to recognize this type of file). You do this by setting file type.

download the data set from the homepage, save it on the desk top.
open Stata (follow instructions on Stata handout)
in Stata, select file, then set file type, then select the data set on the desk top (for assignment one, homeruns.dta).
in Stata, select file, then open, then select the data set on the desk top (for assignment one, homeruns.dta).

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Please send comments to Prof. David van Dyk
URL: www.ics.uci.edu /~dvd/Courses/8/how-to-save-data.html
Last modified: Wednesday, 01-Oct-2008 17:31:44 PDT