.dta files do not open from project manager

[Ivica Rubil]

Dear all,

I cannot open .dta files by double-clicking on them in the project manager window.
To be precise, I cannot do that in my Stata MP 16.0, but can do that in Stata SE 14.2.
On the other hand, in SE 14.2 I cannot open .xlsx files by double-clicking, but can do that in MP 16.0.
Does anybody know what might be the problem?

Best regards,
Ivica Rubil

[Sergiy Radyakin]

I would be very cautious adding to the project anything that is not listed explicitly under the 'Add existing files to 'projectname' project..."
That said, as of v16.0 the following extensions are listed *.do, *.ado, *.dta, *.gph, *.mata.
I often open and edit Stata's help files and project files too - as they are normal text. Yet not Excel files.

The *.dta extension is listed and is opened in the same Stata session for me, (in Stata 16.0/Windows).
I believe for other extensions (unknown to Stata) Stata triggers the default program responsible for that extension. For example, for .hlp - I get a Windows page explaining how to open the classical help files (hence it is better to name them *.sthlp).

When executed, the command runs without an option clear, which may result in an error if the current data was changed after saving. So despite the command is posted to the output, there are no changes to data, because of an error in the submitted command.

Best, Sergiy

[Chinh Nguyen (StataCorp)]

I just tried double-clicking on a .dta file in the project manager on Stata 16 for Windows and Stata 16 for Mac. It opened just fine within Stata. Please contact [email protected] for help and include which platform (Window, Mac, Unix) you're running Stata on.

Sergiy is correct. On filetypes that Stata doesn't recognize, we have the OS open the file with the default program responsible for that extension.