help 

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Title

    chewfile --  chew and digest ASCII file down to size.


Syntax

    chewfile [using filename] [, options]


Description

    chewfile provides a fast and easy way to chew your ASCII file. It
    will (1) cut down a file down to size, (2) export it as a text file,
    or (3) force it to read in as strings. It is a supplement to insheet
    or infile for importing ASCII files.

    Use insheet or infile if you want to read it as a number. If it's too
    big, then read them after cutting it down to size using begin(#),
    end(#), and save( ).


Options

        +------+
    ----+ Main +-------------------------------------------------------------

    replace Replace the existing file.

    clear Read it into memory as strings.

    save( ) Must be specified when clear is not specified.

    parse(" ") Parsing character. The default is tab. Choose comma like
            this, parse(",").

    begin(#) The starting line to read, inclusive. The default is
            begin(1).

    end(#) The ending line to read, inclusive. The default is end(.).

    raw Raw file appears in the first column in addition to the usual
            stuff. Use this if you want to see unaltered file.


Examples

    * example data
    clear
    set obs 100
    gen var1=uniform()
    gen var2=uniform()
    gen var3=uniform()
    outsheet using rawfile.txt, replace noname comma

    * import them as strings
    clear
    chewfile using rawfile.txt, clear parse(",")

    * read through without storing in memory
    clear
    chewfile using rawfile.txt, save(chewed_file.txt) replace

    * read through only a part of file without storing in memory
    clear
    chewfile using rawfile.txt, begin(5) end(.) save(chewed_file.txt)
    replace


Remarks

    Bare minimum programming. Should work.

    First published on Statalist
            http://www.stata.com/statalist/archive/2008-08/msg00834.html

    I have been told the responsible thing to do is to write the help
            file and put it up on ssc.

    You may prefer chunk by David C. Elliott.


Author

    Roy Wada
    roywada@hotmail.com


Also see

    Online: insheet or infile