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help for vartyp
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Set or list variable types (characteristics) for the codebook2 command

        vartyp [varlist] [, set(type) | list(type)]
        
        Where "type" id one of:
                disc - discrete
                cont - continuous
                ord - ordinal
                date - elaspsed date
                id - identification
                undef - undefined type
                clear - clear a set type

                
Description

The vartyp command is used to set or list the variable type(s) used by the
codebook2 command.  With no variables or options specified, vartyp will simply
list all variables and their types.  vartyp can also be used to clear types
that have already been set.

Saved Results

Variables listed or set are returned in r(varlist).


Examples

List all variables:
        . vartyp

List specific variables:
        . vartyp idnum var1 weight

List variables of a specific type:
        . vartyp ,l(cont)
        . vartyp ,l(id)

List variables that have no type set:
        . vartyp, l(undef)

Set a type for a variable:
        . vartyp idnum, s(id)
        . vartyp birthdate weddate, s(date)

Clear a type set for a variable:
        . vartyp var1, s(clear)


If you simply want to change a variable's type, you only need to set it to 
the new type, you do not have to clear it first.  The vartyp command can work
nicely with the ds3 command to set types for many variables at a time:

Set the type to "cont" for all variables that do not have a value label:
        . ds3, not(vall)
        . vartyp `r(varlist)', s(cont)

Set the type to "date" for all varaibles with the word "date" in the variable
label:
        . ds3, has(varl "*date*")
        . vartyp `r(varlist)', s(date)

Now set all the remaining variables to "disc":
        . vartyp, l(undef)
        . vartyp `r(varlist)', s(disc)

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Author
        Paul H. Bern, Syracuse University, phbern@syr.edu
        

See Also:
             Help for:    characteristic
             Net Search:  ds3
             Net Search:  codebook2