Macros

Contents

  1. Macros
    1. Globals
    2. Locals
    3. Evaluation

Globals

Global macros are declared with the global command. Generally these are discouraged, because their very nature (i.e. globally available) creates side-effects. 

global COHORT 1

generate number=${COHORT}
generate string="${COHORT}"

To loop over words in a global macro, see here.

Locals

Local macros are declared with the local command, and only exist in the local scope. 

local stringvars var1 var2

destring `stringvars', force

To loop over words in a local macro, see here.

Note that looping creates local macros to store the current word. These local macros are accessed in the same manner 

foreach v of local stringvars {
  destring `v', force
}

Evaluation

If a macro definition includes an equals sign (=), then what follows is evaluated as an expression. 

. local count1 = _N
. local count2 _N
. display "`count1' vs. `count2'"
100 vs. _N
. display "`count1' vs. " `count2'
100 vs. 100

CategoryRicottone