invalid (variable) r(198) - What does this mean?

[Li-Ling Song]

Hi there,

I am trying to run a factor analysis on state (

factor, R1, R2, etc, pcf

however, it is coming up with this error message:

invalid 'R5'
r(198) ;

I've checked the variable R5 - no missing data, it looks the same as other variables and I've even renamed the variable but still no difference. What am I doing wrong?

thanks,
L

[Marcos Almeida]

Welcome to the Stata Forum / Statalist,

Please type - help factor - and check the correct command.

To start, no comma after "factor" and before varlist. Also, no comma between variables.

Please read again the FAQ, particularly the advice to inform "exactly" what you typed. This is the best way to entail an insightful reply.

[Nick Cox]

You're confusing Stata with extra commas. You're also confusing us because the text R5 nowhere appears in the command line you give. My guess is that you should have typed something more like

factor R1 R2 R3 R4 R5, pcf 

In a command like this, the comma should typically appear once and once only.

https://www.statalist.org/forums/help#stata advises

Say exactly what you typed and exactly what Stata typed (or did) in response. N.B. exactly!

That means: paraphrases and simplifications intended to be helpful -- in this case perhaps "etc" -- usually aren't. We want exact copy and paste from your Stata.