Help-files

Whenever you have an idea of which command you want to use, but are not sure which input it requires, how the option you are interested in is spelled or any other practical detail, first use stata’s built-in manual called “help-files”.

Each help file has the same elements, so familiarize yourself with it now and apply it to any command that you might want to use later.

Let’s walk through the help file of the summarize command for basic summary statistics together:

Help-files

Example code


			 *Some particularly useful help files:  
 


			 help 
			               
				// stata’s written explanation on what is included in the help files and how you find your way through it  

			
			 help  language 
			     
			 // summary of how every command’s syntax works  

			
			 help  dta_manuals  
			 
			 // list of links to even more detailed online manuals for specific topics

Exercise

Load the built-in dataset on country-wise life expectancy data by typing “sysuse lexp, clear” in the command window

Open the helpfile for the summarize command, familiarize yourself with it and keep it open.
Check what happens when you type only "summarize" in the command window and find the explanation in the help file.
Display the basic summary statistics only of the life expectancy variable.
Check how far you can shorten the command and run the same summary statistics again (the output remains exactly the same).
Check how you can additionally display the four smallest values of the life expectancy variable (lexp).

Solution

Exercise_Help-files.do