Title

del -- Describe(l)

Syntax

del [varelist] [using path_el] [, options]

include(details) Specify information to display.

novars Display only dataset info, not individual variable info.

wrap Wrap long text instead of truncating.

define Saves metadata choices with dataset

Description

del describes a dataset in memory or on disk. It can be used with any file that usel could read. For non-Stata files, some information may be missing or approximated.

The arrangement and information displayed can be customized for each data file, and can include characteristics specific to that data file.

Options

include(column list [, only]) where column list can include:

Column Description

irstype integer/real/string, plus size in bytes

stdtype Stata datatype (byte, long, etc.)

nlabel Name label

vlabel Value labels

format

charname Specify the characteristic name; the characteristic content is displayed.

The columns you specify will be followed by any others in the saved/default display, unless you specify only.

vlabel includes the value-label name as a link, which will bring up the actual labels in a viewer tab.

charname will display the relevant content for both the variables, and the dataset, if present.

novars suppresses the table of variables, leaving only the description of the dataset as a whole.
charnames specified in include() can still add to the dataset display.

wrap causes the text in the variables-table to wrap rather than truncate. The dataset-table (if present) always wraps.

define makes the current display the default for this dataset. The choice will be saved with the data.

Examples

usel exampel, sys
del
del, i(format)
del, i(irs method)
del, i(how irs method) wrap