= Stata File I/O =

There are distinct commands for reading or writing to non-Stata file formats.

<<TableOfContents>>

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== Excel ==

To import from an [[Excel]] spreadsheet, try:

{{{
import excel using "path/to/file", sheet("Sheet1") firstrow
}}}

To import all columns as string variables, as opposed to guessing the type of columns, use the '''`allstring`''' option.

To export into an Excel spreadsheet, try:

{{{
export excel using "path/to/file", sheet("Sheet1") firstrow(variables) replace
}}}

See also [[Stata/PutExcel|-putexcel-]].

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== Text ==

To import from a CSV file, try:

{{{
import delimited using "path/to/file", varnames(1)
}}}

Or for a delimited text file, such as by tabs, try:

{{{
import delimited using "path/to/file", delimiters("\t") varnames(1)
}}}

Often, the '''`stringcols(_all)`''' option is necessary.

If there are no column labels, use the '''`varnames(nonames)`''' option.

To export into a (CSV) file, try:

{{{
export delimited using "path/to/file", replace
}}}

To suppress column labels, use the '''`novarnames`''' option.

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== Older versions of Stata ==

Stata is not infinitely backwards-compatible. To go beyond the supported range, use '''`-saveold-`'''.

{{{
saveold "path/to/file", version(11)
}}}



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