How to keep track of your ado-files

W.J. Graveland, University Hospital Rotterdam-Daniel Department of Statistics

Example: SITE-directory DDHK

• 345 ado-files

• 128 help-files

• three authors: WvP, BvdH and WG

Problems with rising numbers of ado-files:

• Which do I have

• Which are still necessary

• Which are called by other ado-files

• Who made a certain ado-file

ConventionsAt our department we have the rule to start each ado-file in the same way, per example :

*dtatodbf.ado WvP/BvdH, 26/03/02*first version 30/09/97*Transfers a dta file to dbf file, using DBMSCOPY

Our dataset contains later:

name author dfirst dlastDTATODBF WvP-BvdH 30sep1997 26mar2002(and more variables)

Search your own ado-files

The commands “search and findit” use (also) stata*.key files to find files which apply to the keyword you give.

If the key-option is specified , a stata2.key file is generated(was not in use now, but can be in the future)

discussion : use of stata2.key is doubtfull. Maybe stata can also search for site.key, with search and findit commands.

Adoinf.ado:

Example of syntax :

adoinf remake detail max(400) kw(DDHK) key authors(WvP;BvdH;WG) This command generates :

• adoinf.dta : each observation is an adofile. The variables contain properties of the adofile • ….\UPDATES\s\stata2.key

Some variables:

name Name ado filedsaved Date last saveddfirst date of first versiondlast date of last versionauthor Authornado # ado-files from same folder calledado1 ADO subroutines [1]ado2 ADO subroutines [2]ado3 ADO subsubroutines

Some variables(2):

ncalled # files using this programcalled ADO-files using this programkeywords keywordsoneliner describing function of ado-filehelp helpfile availabledhelp date of help version

Use and contact

The program becomes available coming week.Type on your computer:

findit adoinf

If there are troubles or suggestions:

email : graveland@stah.azr.nl