Differences Between the Unix and Windows Versions

The Stat/Transfer command processor on Windows and on Unix platforms share a common code base. The only differences are however a few differences in "style" and in the formats which can be supported on the Unix platforms

Format Differences

Because Microsoft uses a proprietary and undocumented file format for Excel Version 5 and above, these files can only be supported on Windows. In addition. The following formats are not yet available on Unix:

ODBC

Access

Paradox

Minitab

Style Differences

The switch character on Unix is the dash rather than the slash, for instance to copy a file with optimizing and no prompting for overwriting type:

copy my.ssd01 out.dta -y -o

There are several abbreviations and synonyms for commands, for instance:

cp will work for copy

! or system will run a shell command

ls will work for directory

Stat/Transfer is not case sensitive, but, Unix file systems are. Therefore file names and paths must be in the correct case, but commands do not matter.

When run from the command line, Unix stat/transfer will only issue messages if there are errors. If you want more verbose output, use the -v switch.

If you are running a wildcard transfer from the command line the arguments must be enclosed in quotes to prevent the shell from expanding the wildcards before Stat/Transfer sees themt. For example:

st "in/*.sd2" "out/*.dta" -y -o