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help for labgen and labreplace
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Generate or replace variables with definitions copied to variable labels

    labgen [typname] varname = exp [if exp] [in range]

    labreplace varname = exp [if exp] [in range] [, nopromote ]


Description

    labgen generates a new variable using generate, except that the
    definition of the variable, i.e. whatever follows the equals sign,
    including any if or in qualifiers specified, becomes the variable label.

    labreplace replaces an existing variable using replace, except that the
    definition of the variable, i.e. whatever follows the equals sign,
    including any if or in qualifiers specified, becomes the variable label.

    Thus labgen logy = ln(y) creates a new variable logy with variable label
    ln(y). Similarly labreplace logy = ln(y) if foo > 2 replaces variable lny
    with a new variable label ln(y) if foo > 2.


Remarks

    A first version of labgen was posted by Paul Lin to Statalist on 16 July
    1996. NJC posted a revision on 18 July 1996. Alan H. Feiveson drew my
    attention to it once more in Statalist postings on 25 September 2008.
    labgen as published on SSC is revised and labreplace is new as of 13
    October 2008.

    Note that the :lblname syntax of generate is not supported.

    Exceptionally, if the definition exceeds 80 characters in length, then
    the definition is inserted in notes for the variable and the variable
    label is a pointer to that effect.

    For other commands in similar spirit, search genl and see Weesie (1997),
    or search defv and see Gleason (1997, 1999).


Examples

    . labgen lny = ln(y)
    . labreplace lny = ln(y) if bar > 2


Author

    Nicholas J. Cox, Durham University, U.K.
    n.j.cox@durham.ac.uk


References

    Gleason, J.R. 1997.  Defining variables and recording their definitions.
        Stata Technical Bulletin 40: 9-10.  (STB Reprints 7: 48-49)
        http://www.stata.com/products/stb/journals/stb40.pdf

    Gleason, J.R. 1999. Update to defv.  Stata Technical Bulletin 51: 2.
        (STB Reprints 9: 14-15)
        http://www.stata.com/products/stb/journals/stb51.pdf

    Weesie, J. 1997.  Automatic recording of definitions.  Stata Technical
        Bulletin 35: 6-7.  (STB Reprints 6: 18-20)
        http://www.stata.com/products/stb/journals/stb35.pdf