Using Stat/Transfer on the Linux/UNIX Systems

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2011-2012

Stanford University Social Science Data and Software

Using Stat/Transfer on the Linux/UNIX Systems

Stanford University provides Linux computing resources, which can be accessed through the Stanford University Network (SUNet). The Stanford UNIX system is in fact implemented in the Linux operating system and the two terms are used interchangeably. This document provides a basic overview of the Stat/Transfer data analysis package that is running on the Linux Systems.

Stat/Transfer is a program that converts data files between different database management systems, spreadsheets, statistical packages, and other application packages. You must have a SUNet ID (Stanford University Network Identifier) to use the Stanford Linux Systems. See the following URL for information on obtaining a SUNet ID:

http://www.stanford.edu/group/itss/services/sunetid

For basic information on using Linux/UNIX, such as selecting the right server, security considerations, and frequently used UNIX commands, visit the ITS site:

http://www.stanford.edu/services/unixcomputing/

Stanford ITS also provide instructions on logging in to Linux servers:

https://itservices.stanford.edu/service/unixcomputing/unix/loggingin

Before You Begin

Currently Stat/Transfer version 10.1 runs on the Linux systems. You can run Stat/Transfer interactively and in batch mode, as described below.

In the sample command lines in this document this style represents Stat/Transfer or system words, which should not be changed. Words in italics are example names and should be

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Therefore, the Linux prompt throughout the document will be shown as myth6>.

As you would for any software hosted on the Linux server, you can begin by setting your desired working directory:

cd directory

Note: You can repeat this command while in Stat/Transfer Interactive Mode.

Running Stat/Transfer in Interactive Mode

Within Interactive Stat/Transfer

Stat/Transfer can be run interactively from the Linux prompt by typing the following at the UNIX prompt and pressing return:

myth6> st

Once you are in Stat/Transfer, commands are issued at the st prompt. You can exit Stat/Transfer by typing quit, or just the letter q.

st> quit

Stat/Transfer Help Menu

The help menu is very well organized. You start it by typing help at the prompt. Then, follow the instructions: by typing help commands you will receive information about which Stat/Transfer commands are available. For more information on a given command, type help, followed by the command name, for example:

myth6> help copy

This will give additional information about the copy command.

For a description of the file formats Stat/Transfer accepts and their corresponding extensions, type help formats (some commonly used extensions are also listed in the appendix of this text).

Transferring data

To transfer data from one format to another, use the command:

st> copy in.ext1 out.ext2

The data in file in.ext1 (in the format corresponding to ext1) will be copied into the file out.ext2

in the format corresponding to ext2.

For example, to transfer the data from file filename.sas7bdat (SAS version 8.0) to filename.dta

(STATA), type the following command:

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3 – Using Stat/Transfer on the Linux/UNIX Systems

At the Linux/UNIX Prompt

Another way of using Stat/Transfer interactively is to type commands directly at the UNIX prompt. This method is useful if you have only one command and you are sure of its syntax. For example, to complete the same transfer as in the last section, type at the UNIX prompt:

myth6> st filename.sas7bdat filename.dta

This will do in one step what you did in two in the last section (entering Stat/Transfer and then using the copy command). Note: you do not need to include the word “copy” here;

Stat/Transfer will copy by default.

Running Stat/Transfer in Batch Mode

Stat/Transfer can be run in batch mode. Batch mode involves writing a text file using a text editor, such as Emacs or Pico1, and then submitting the commands contained in the text file to Stat/Transfer. Batch mode is convenient because programs can be saved and edited for future use and several conversions can be run in the same program. To submit the commands to

Stat/Transfer, type the following at the Linux prompt:

myth6> st filename.stc

Then press return.

When you create your text file, be sure to give it the extension .stc. It is the only file extension accepted by Stat/Transfer.

filename.stc is the name of a batch text file containing Stat/Transfer commands called "statements." An example batch text file is provided below. Statements specify the input and output files, selections of records and variables, and computation of new variables. Put one statement in each line.

An unlimited number of lines can be included in the same batch file. A simple batch file, containing two lines, could look like this:

copy filename.sas7bdat filename.dta copy filename.sas7bdat filename1.por

This program will convert the SAS version8 (.sas7bdat) file called filename into a STATA (.dta) file called filename and into an SPSS portable file (.por) called filename1. See the Appendix for a list of extensions for the most commonly used software.

Once the program finishes running, the files filename.dta and filename1.por will be in your working directory. To specify a subdirectory, you must type the full path name in front of the filename.

1_{Another option is to write the text file on your personal computer in your favorite text editor, such as TextEdit,} TextPad, or WordPad, and then upload it to your afs space.

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transferred) or error messages.

If you get an error message and want to correct the file you submitted, you first of all need to quit Stat/Transfer by typing at the prompt:

st> quit

After quitting Stat/Transfer, you can correct your file in the text editor of your choice, then submit and run the corrected program.

For More Information and Assistance

Stat/Transfer Assistance

To learn more about the features of this software package and to find out the syntax of specific statements, consult the Stat/Transfer manuals, available in the Velma Denning Room (Room 120F) in the Bing Wing of Green Library.

The software consultants at Social Science Data and Software (SSDS) provide technical assistance for Stat/Transfer users at Stanford. Users can send questions to SSDS Software Services by sending email via our web page or can come to the Velma Denning Room (120F) of the Social Sciences Resource Center in the Bing Wing of Green Library during walk- in hours; no appointment is necessary. Current walk-in hours are listed on the SSDS web page at: http://ssds.stanford.edu.

Help Menu

Remember that the Stat/Transfer help menu that can be accessed on the Linux system and is very well organized (see above). To access the menu, enter interactive Stat/Transfer by typing st at the Linux prompt, then type help at the st prompt.

Help with the Linux/UNIX Systems

If you have questions about using the Linux Systems, send email to Stanford University’s Help Desk via their web page, http://helpsu.stanford.edu.

SSDS Software Services at Stanford

Software Services provides technical support for statistical software users at Stanford. Users can ask questions or make appointments with the consultants via our website. For more information or to contact us, see the web at:

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5 – Using Stat/Transfer on the Linux/UNIX Systems

Appendix

Commonly Used File Extensions

This is a list of extensions for the most commonly used statistical and database packages. For the full list of supported packages and their pseudo-extensions, consult Stat/Transfer manuals

located in the Velma Denning Room (Room 120F) of the Social Sciences Resource Center in Green Library’s Bing Wing.

Software Product Extension

DBaseIV .dbf

Excel, pre-2007 .xls

Excel 2007 .xlsx

Gauss .dat

Limdep for Windows .lpj

Matlab .mat

Minitab for UNIX .mtw

SAS Transport File .xpt, .tpt

SAS Data File version 7/8 .sas7bdat, .sd7 SAS Data File Windows/OS2 .sd2

SPSS Portable .por

SPSS for Windows .sav

SPSS for UNIX .sav

Stata IC and Stata SE .dta

ASCII text file .txt

ASCII text file, comma delimited .csv

JMP .jmp

Please note:

1. For S-PLUS file names, since they have no extensions, a period must be added at the end. For example, to transfer the S-PLUS file filename to the SPSS portable file

filename1, type:

st> copy filename. filename1.por

2. Currently on the Stanford servers, the default version of Stata is version 10. To convert to another version of Stata, use the –v flag. For example, to convert a .csv file to Stata version 9, use:

st> copy filename.csv filename.dta –v9

Copyright © 2011 by The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University. Permission granted to copy for non-commercial purposes, provided we receive acknowledgment and a copy of the document in which our material appears. No right is granted to quote from or use any material in this document for purposes of promoting any product or service.

Social Science Data and Software Document revised: 9/21/2011

Using Stat/Transfer on the Linux/UNIX Systems