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Error after using SELECT - "File does not contain dictionary" [message #6782]

Tue, 14 July 2015 17:39

jack26h
Messages: 2
Registered: July 2015

Member

Hi, my question is about what to do after using the SELECT tool. I'm working in Stata. I see the .dct and .do files with my selected variables. I've tried opening the .dct file using the command: "infile using C:\XXX.dct". I get the following error message: "file does not contain dictionary".

This is my first time working with a .dct file so appreciate your help.

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Re: Error after using SELECT - "File does not contain dictionary" [message #6783 is a reply to message #6782]

Wed, 15 July 2015 08:38

Bridgette-DHS
Messages: 3199
Registered: February 2013

Senior Member

The .DO file contains instructions for reading the data and the .DCT file contains specifications for the layout of the data. The .DO file refers directly to the .DCT file, which in turn refers to the data (.DAT) file. You will need to modify both the .DO file and the .DCT file to change the filenames at the beginning of each file to specify the correct drive and the full path name of the directory in which the data file resides. These modifications can be done using a text editor such as Wordpad or Edit. Once these have been modified, you simply run the .DO file in Stata by starting Stata and then clicking on File, Do from the menu and selecting the .DO file. This will read the data into Stata. After the data have been read into Stata do not forget to save the file as a Stata dataset (.DTA extension).

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