program def chardel
*! NJC 1.0.1 1 April 2000
	version 6.0
	syntax varname

	local chvar : char `varlist'[]
	if "`chvar'" == "" {
		di in r "`varlist' has no characteristics"
		exit 498
	}

	tokenize `chvar'
	while "`1'" != "" {
		char `varlist'[`1']         /* blank it out */
		mac shift
	}
end