continuous variable to categorical one.

[River Huang]

Dear All, Is there a more concise way to do the following.

* Example generated by -dataex-. To install: ssc install dataex
clear
input float(Y p10 p20 p40 p60 p80 p90)
200000 26000 36000 50000 80000 120000 200000
20000 26000 36000 50000 80000 120000 200000
40000 26000 36000 50000 80000 120000 200000
30000 26000 36000 50000 80000 120000 200000
100000 26000 36000 50000 80000 120000 200000
300000 26000 36000 50000 80000 120000 200000
96000 26000 36000 50000 80000 120000 200000
16000 26000 36000 50000 80000 120000 200000
50000 26000 36000 50000 80000 120000 200000
60000 26000 36000 50000 80000 120000 200000
50000 26000 36000 50000 80000 120000 200000
100000 26000 36000 50000 80000 120000 200000
50000 26000 36000 50000 80000 120000 200000
40000 26000 36000 50000 80000 120000 200000
90000 26000 36000 50000 80000 120000 200000
end

gen Y1=.
replace Y1=1  if  Y <= p10
replace Y1=2  if  p10 < Y & Y <= p20
replace Y1=3  if  p20 < Y & Y <= p40
replace Y1=4  if  p40 < Y & Y <= p60
replace Y1=5  if  p60 < Y & Y <= p80
replace Y1=6  if  p80 < Y & Y < =p90
replace Y1=7  if  Y > p90

[Andrew Musau]

gen wanted=1
foreach var of varlist p*{
    replace wanted = wanted +1 if `var'<Y
}

[River Huang]

Dear Andrew, Many thanks for this helpful suggestion.

[Nick Cox]

Here's another way to do it:

gen wanted1 = 1

foreach v in 10 20 40 60 80 90 {
    replace wanted1 = wanted1 + 1 if Y > p`v'
}

[River Huang]

Dear Nick, This is also helpful.

[Romalpa Akzo]

For this specific issue, manual approach does not look bad.

gen W = 1 + (Y>p10) + (Y>p20) + (Y>p40) + (Y>p60) + (Y>p80) + (Y>p90)

[River Huang]

Dear Romalpa, Thanks for offering this helpful ("manual") method.