help labvalpool
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Title

     labvalpool -- Pool (sets of) value labels


Syntax

        labvalpool [target-lblname [lblname-list]] [, options]


     where

        target-lblname is the value label name for pooled sets of value labels

        lblname-list are names of value label sets to be pooled


Description

    labvalpool pools (sets of) value labels specified in lblname-list. A
    value label set, target-lblname, is defined, pooling definitions from
    lblname1, lblname2, .... Not specifying target-lblname and/or
    lblname-list, means all value labels in memory.


Options

    append[(numlist | varlist)] appends value label definitions from
        lblname-list to target-lblname. Note that target-lblname must exist.
        If specified, only values in numlist or varlist and the associated
        text are added from lblname-list. May not be specified with replace.

    replace replaces target-lblname with pooled value labels from
        lblname-list. If target-labelname exists, it is redefined, otherwise
        a new value label set is defined. May not be specified with append.

    update overwrites value label definitions. Later definitions overwrite
        earlier ones in the order of the specified lblname-list. The synonym
        overwrite may be used. May not be specified with pool.

    pool pools text from value labels. Any text associated with the same
        values is combined. May not be specified with update.

    separator(chars) uses chars to separate pooled value labels. May only be
        specified with pool. Default separator is " ".


Examples

        . clear all
        . label define foo 1 "one" ,modify
        . label define foo 2 "two" ,modify
        . label define foo 3 "three" ,modify

        . label define bar 3 "second three" ,modify
        . label define bar 4 "four" ,modify

        . labvalpool foobar foo bar
        . label list
        . labvalpool foobar foo bar,replace update
        . label list foobar
        
        . labvalpool foobar foo bar,replace pool
        . label list foobar

        . label drop foobar
        . labvalpool foo bar ,append
        . label list
        

        . sysuse nlsw88 ,clear
        . recode occupation (1/2 = 1 "Higher occupation") ,generate(occ)
            label(occlbl2)
        . label list occlbl2
        . labvalpool occlbl2 occlbl ,append(occ)
        . label list occlbl2


Acknowledgments

    The problem of combining (sets of) value labels was suggested by Jorge
    Eduardo Pérez Pérez on Statalist.

    Nick Cox proposed a first solution labvalcombine, which is availiable
    under the link above (or as part of labutil package) and will work with
    Stata version 8 or higher.


Author

    Daniel Klein, University of Kassel, klein.daniel.81@gmail.com


Also see

    Online: label

    if installed: labvalcombine, labcopy, labvalclone, labutil2