Define subroutine in a .do file

[Francois Durant]

Hi,

I have a large do file that I would like to break down in several smaller pieces of code that I could run (or not) from the top of the file. I do not want to break down the main .do file in several .do files but rather have more control over the part of the code I am running in 1 single do file.

* Main file:
** Call 1st piece of the code: 1) Merging data
***** Some code that calls the 1st part "merging data"

** Call 2nd piece of the code: 2) regression analysis
***** Some code that calls "regression analysis
etc.


I have tried the following but I get the error message below. Anyone can point to the right direction/format?Thanks!

clear
main

capture program drop main
program main
    test
end

capture program drop test
program test
    di "Hello World"
    test2
end

capture program drop test2
program test2

input x y
32 56
26 67
34 61
39 58
29 58
end

list
end

. clear

. main
command main is unrecognized
r(199);

end of do-file

Can someone tell me what I am doing wrong? Thanks

I have tried to post a similar message a few days ago:
https://www.statalist.org/forums/for...e-same-do-file

[Maarten Buis]

You first tried to call the program main before defining it. Stata only know what it is supposed to do after you defined a program. So if you want to apply this strategy, the top of your do file should contain all the program definitions, and only after that you can call those programs.

[Francois Durant]

Thanks Maarten. I have implemented your suggestion but I am still getting the same error. Here is the structure of my program (minimized to save space but contains code in each subroutine and finished by "end"):

*** O) Parameter definition ***
capture program drop parameter_definition
program parameter_definition

*** I) Data construction ***
capture program drop data_construction
program data_construction

*** II) Predictive model ***
capture program drop predictive_model
program predictive_model

*** III) Call the subroutines ***
parameter_definition
data_construction
predictive_model

Here is the error I get when I hit the button "Execute (do)" for the whole program

. data_construction
command data_construction is unrecognized

It works when I highlight and run each subroutine individually and then call the subroutines. Is there any way to prevent me having to run them individually each time before calling? Thanks for your help.

[Joseph Coveney]

Can't reproduce your error. There's something that you're not showing us. Check again.

.ÿ
.ÿversionÿ16.1

.ÿ
.ÿclearÿ*

.ÿ
.ÿ***ÿO)ÿParameterÿdefinitionÿ***
.ÿcaptureÿprogramÿdropÿparameter_definition

.ÿprogramÿdefineÿparameter_definition
ÿÿ1.ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿversionÿ16.1
ÿÿ2.ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿsyntax
ÿÿ3.ÿ
.ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿdisplayÿinÿsmclÿasÿtextÿ_newline(1)ÿ"ParameterÿDefinition"
ÿÿ4.ÿend

.ÿ
.ÿ***ÿI)ÿDataÿconstructionÿ***
.ÿcaptureÿprogramÿdropÿdata_construction

.ÿprogramÿdefineÿdata_construction
ÿÿ1.ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿversionÿ16.1
ÿÿ2.ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿsyntax
ÿÿ3.ÿ
.ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿdisplayÿinÿsmclÿasÿtextÿ_newline(1)ÿ"DataÿConstruction"
ÿÿ4.ÿend

.ÿ
.ÿ***ÿII)ÿPredictiveÿmodelÿ***
.ÿcaptureÿprogramÿdropÿpredictive_model

.ÿprogramÿdefineÿpredictive_model
ÿÿ1.ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿversionÿ16.1
ÿÿ2.ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿsyntax
ÿÿ3.ÿ
.ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿdisplayÿinÿsmclÿasÿtextÿ_newline(1)ÿ"PredictiveÿModel"
ÿÿ4.ÿend

.ÿ
.ÿ***ÿIII)ÿCallÿtheÿsubroutinesÿ***
.ÿparameter_definition

ParameterÿDefinition

.ÿdata_construction

DataÿConstruction

.ÿpredictive_model

PredictiveÿModel

.ÿ
.ÿexit

endÿofÿdo-file


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