Billy Buchanan, Ph.D. Director, Office of Grants, Research, Accountability, & Data Fayette County Public Schools
You probably encounter programming patterns regularly if you use a combination of Windows, OSX, and *nix variants of Stata.
You need to try to locate the object by name during instantiation:
// Starts Mata session mata: // Clears existing material from Mata mata clear // Defines the Ipeds class class Ipeds { // Public member variables public : // Member variable that stores string matrix with all metadata string matrix ipedsdb // Member variable storing the root directory/url for all files string scalar ipedsroot, colraw // Class constructor void new(), listAllYears(), listAllSurveys(), listAllTitles(), listAllRevised(), listAllPreliminary(), listAllData(), replaySearch(), downloadBySearch(), downloadByID(), downloadHandler(), listSurveysByYear(), listTitlesByYear(), listTitlesBySurvey() // Function that provides search functionality to class string matrix search() // Protected member variables protected : // Container to store search results for easy downloading/assembly pointer scalar searchResults // Private member variables private : // Pointers to different combinations of search fields pointer scalar yearIDs, surveyIDs, titleIDs, surveyByYearIDs, titleByYearIDs, titleBySurveyIDs, titleBySurveyAndYearIDs, years, surveys, titles, revised, preliminary, db // Pointer used to store state of the class and enforce singleton pattern pointer() scalar singleton // Internal function used to return only file names from ipedsdb string rowvector getFileNames() void checkDirectory() string matrix getIpeds(), loadRawMatrix(), loadCompiledMatrix() } // End of Class definition // Class constructor definition void Ipeds::new() { // Stores error message in a string scalar string rowvector errmsg // Stores the error message for later display/formatting errmsg = ( "Object ipeds of class Ipeds already exists.", "DO NOT USE THIS OBJECT!", "Use the existing ipeds object instead.") // Initializes the singleton member with the single instance name this.singleton = valofexternal("ipeds") // Test whether or not the variable ipeds exists in the global namespace if ((this.singleton) == J(0, 0, .)) { // Root for all data sets and script files this.ipedsroot = "https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/datacenter/data/" // Creates new string matrix this.ipedsdb = getIpeds() // Sets pointer to ipedsdb db = &this.ipedsdb // Pointer to unique value of years this.years = &uniqrows(this.ipedsdb[., 1]) // Pointer to unique value of survey names this.surveys = &uniqrows(this.ipedsdb[., 2]) // Pointer to unique values of title names this.titles = &uniqrows(this.ipedsdb[., 3]) // Creates pointer to list of distinct years this.yearIDs = &uniqrows(this.ipedsdb[., (1, 6)]) // Creates pointer to list of distinct surveys across years this.surveyIDs = &uniqrows(this.ipedsdb[., (2, 6)]) // Creates pointer to list of distinct titles across years this.titleIDs = &uniqrows(this.ipedsdb[., (3, 6)]) // Creates pointer to list of distinct surveys by year this.surveyByYearIDs = &uniqrows(this.ipedsdb[., (1, 2, 6)]) // Creates pointer to list of distinct titles by year this.titleByYearIDs = &uniqrows(this.ipedsdb[., (1, 3, 6)]) // Creates pointer to list of distinct titles by survey name this.titleBySurveyIDs = &uniqrows(this.ipedsdb[., (2, 3, 6)]) // Creates pointer to list of distinct identifiers this.titleBySurveyAndYearIDs = &uniqrows(this.ipedsdb[., (1, 2, 3, 6)]) // Pointer to identifying information for revised records this.revised = &select(this.ipedsdb[., (1, 2, 3, 6)], this.ipedsdb[., 7] :== "1") // Pointer to identifying information for preliminary records this.preliminary = &select(this.ipedsdb[., (1, 2, 3, 6)], this.ipedsdb[., 8] :== "1") this.singleton = findexternal("ipeds") } // End IF Block for case where object is already initialized // If the object already exists else { // Print message to screen when object already exists display(sprintf("{txt}%s", errmsg[1, 1])) display(sprintf("{err}%s", errmsg[1, 2])) display(sprintf("{res}%s", errmsg[1, 3])) } // End ELSE Block for existing ipeds object } // End of constructor definition // Method to download data/script files based on search results void Ipeds::downloadBySearch(| string rowvector savepath, real scalar files) { // Calls the download by ID method using ID values from the search results this.downloadByID((*this.searchResults)[., 1]', savepath, files) } // End of Method definition for download by search method // Method to download data/script files based on ID numbers void Ipeds::downloadByID(string rowvector ids, | string rowvector savepath, real scalar files) { // Member variable used for iterating over the ids real scalar i // Rowvector used to store the names of the files to download string rowvector filenames // Loop over the IDs passed to the method for (i = 1; i <= cols(ids); i++) { // Calls the download handler method this.downloadHandler(this.getFileNames(ids[1, i], files), savepath) } // End of the loop over the result set } // End of the method definition for downloading by ID values // Defines method to retrieve file names string rowvector Ipeds::getFileNames(string scalar id, | real scalar files) { // Container to store results string rowvector fileNames // If user passes a single argument assume both file names should be returned if (args() == 1) fileNames = select((*db)[., (4, 5)], (*db)[., 6] :== id) // If there are multiple arguments passed else { // Value of 0 used to return both results if (files == 0) fileNames = select((*db)[., (4, 5)], (*db)[., 6] :== id) // Value of 1 used to return the data file name only else if (files == 1) fileNames = (select((*db)[., 4], (*db)[., 6] :== id), "") // Any other value returns only the Stata script file name else fileNames = ("", select((*db)[., 5], (*db)[., 6] :== id)) } // End ELSE Block for arguments passed // Returns the string rowvector with the file names return(fileNames) } // End of Method definition // Defines a method to handle the downloading and decompression of the files void Ipeds::downloadHandler(string rowvector files, string rowvector savepath) { // Variable to store status code from directory changing real scalar dirstatus // String used to construct the Stata command to copy the files string scalar copycmd, unzipcmd, datapath, scriptpath // If user specifies two different paths if (cols(savepath) == 2) { // Path for data files is first datapath = savepath[1, 1] // Path for script files is second scriptpath = savepath[1, 2] } // End IF Block for multiple save paths // If a single path is passed to the function else { // Data path is the sole element datapath = savepath[1, 1] // Script path is the same element scriptpath = savepath[1, 1] } // End ELSE Block for single save path // Start of the string copycmd = "copy " + this.ipedsroot // Add command name to the unzipcmd string unzipcmd = "unzipfile " // Test if position for the data file name is blank if (files[1, 1] != "") { // Changes directory to the data directory path dirstatus = _chdir(datapath) // Copies the first file stata(copycmd + files[1, 1] + " " + datapath + files[1, 1]) // Executes the unzipfile command to decompress the downloaded file stata(unzipcmd + datapath + files[1, 1]) // Now erase the .zip file to clean up the harddrive unlink(datapath + files[1, 1]) } // End IF Block for valid data file // If user wants to download data and script this will handle retrieving the // script file if (files[1, 2] != "") { // Changes directory to the path to use for scripts dirstatus = _chdir(scriptpath) // Executes the copy command to copy the script file stata(copycmd + files[1, 2] + " " + scriptpath + files[1, 2]) // Executes the unzipfile command to decompress the downloaded file stata(unzipcmd + scriptpath + files[1, 2]) // Remove the zip file for the script files stata("erase " + scriptpath + files[1, 2]) } // End IF Block for valid Stata script files } // End of the downloadHandler method definition // Method to print search results to screen again void Ipeds::replaySearch() { // Make sure the matrix has values to display first if (this.searchResults != NULL) (*this.searchResults)[., (1..4)] // If it doesn't display a message else printf("You need to search IPEDS prior to replaying the search results") } // End of replay method // Defines method for searching all available files and returning file names string matrix Ipeds::search(| string scalar years, string scalar surveys, string scalar titles, string scalar ids, string scalar revised, string scalar preliminary) { // Need string scalars to handle missing options string scalar f1, f2, f3, f6, f7, f8 // If the year value isn't specified use a wildcard regex if (ustrregexm(years, "[0-9]+") != 1) f1 = ".*" // Otherwise use the supplied year value else f1 = years // If no survey name is passed use a wildcard regex if (surveys == "") f2 = ".*" // Otherwise use the supplied value else f2 = surveys // If no survey title is passed use a wildcard regex if (titles == "") f3 = ".*" // Otherwise use the supplied value else f3 = titles // If an invalid id value is passed use a wildcard regex if (regexm(ids, "[0-9]+") != 1) f6 = ".*" // Otherwise use the supplied year value else f6 = ids // If no value for revised only is passed use a wildcard regex if (revised != "" | revised != "1" | revised != "0") f7 = ".*" // Otherwise use the supplied value else f7 = revised // If no value for preliminary only is passed use a wildcard regex if (preliminary == "" | preliminary != "1" | preliminary != "0") f8 = ".*" // Otherwise use the supplied value else f8 = preliminary // Select all the records that match across the regex parameters and return // the data set name and the script file name this.searchResults = &select(this.ipedsdb[., (6, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)], rowsum((ustrregexm(this.ipedsdb[., 1], f1, 1), ustrregexm(this.ipedsdb[., 2], f2, 1), ustrregexm(this.ipedsdb[., 3], f3, 1), ustrregexm(this.ipedsdb[., 6], f6, 1), ustrregexm(this.ipedsdb[., 7], f7, 1), ustrregexm(this.ipedsdb[., 8], f8, 1))) :== 6) // Returns the string matrix return((*this.searchResults)) } // End of Method definition for search functionality // Method to print all available years to the string void Ipeds::listAllYears() { // Declares iterator for loop below real scalar i // Prints heading for the returned results printf("\nYears Available : \n") // Loops over the records referenced by the years pointer for(i = 1; i <= rows(*this.years); i++) { // Prints a formatted string with each datum on its own line printf("\n\t%s", (*this.years)[i, 1]) } // End of Loop } // End of Method definition // Method to print all survey names to the screen void Ipeds::listAllSurveys() { // Declares iterator for loop below real scalar i // Prints heading for the returned results printf("\nSurveys Available : \n") // Loops over the records referenced by the survey pointer for(i = 1; i <= rows(*this.surveys); i++) { // Prints a formatted string with each datum on its own line printf("\n\t%s", (*this.surveys)[i, 1]) } // End of Loop } // End of Method definition // Method to print all survey titles to the screen void Ipeds::listAllTitles() { // Declares iterator for loop below real scalar i // Prints heading for the returned results printf("\nTitles Available : \n") // Loops over the records referenced by the title pointer for(i = 1; i <= rows(*this.titles); i++) { // Prints a formatted string with each datum on its own line printf("\n\t%s", (*this.titles)[i, 1]) } // End of Loop } // End of Method definition // Method to print the list of all revised data to screen void Ipeds::listAllRevised() { // Declares iterator for loop below real scalar i // Prints heading for the returned results printf("\nRevised Data Available : \n\n") // Loops over the records referenced by the pointer for(i = 1; i <= rows(*this.revised); i++) { // Prints a formatted string with each datum on its own line printf("Survey Year\t-\t%s\nSurvey Name\t-\t%s\nSurvey Title\t-\t%s\nID Number\t-\t%s\n\n", (*this.revised)[i, 1], (*this.revised)[i, 2], (*this.revised)[i, 3], (*this.revised)[i, 4]) } // End of Loop } // End of Method definition // Method to print the list of all preliminary released data to screen void Ipeds::listAllPreliminary() { // Declares iterator for loop below real scalar i // Prints heading for the returned results printf("\nPreliminary Data Available : \n\n") // Loops over the records referenced by the pointer for(i = 1; i <= rows(*this.preliminary); i++) { // Prints a formatted string with each datum on its own line printf("Survey Year\t-\t%s\nSurvey Name\t-\t%s\nSurvey Title\t-\t%s\nID Number\t-\t%s\n\n", (*this.preliminary)[i, 1], (*this.preliminary)[i, 2], (*this.preliminary)[i, 3], (*this.preliminary)[i, 4]) } // End of Loop } // End of Method definition // Method to print the list of all revised data to screen void Ipeds::listAllData() { // Declares iterator for loop below real scalar i // Prints heading for the returned results printf("\nIPEDS Data Available : \n\n") // Loops over the records referenced by the pointer for(i = 1; i <= rows(*this.db); i++) { // Prints a formatted string with each datum on its own line printf("Survey Year\t-\t%s\nSurvey Name\t-\t%s\nSurvey Title\t-\t%s\nID Number\t-\t%s\nRevised\t\t-\t%s\nPreliminary\t-\t%s\n\n", (*this.db)[i, 1], (*this.db)[i, 2], (*this.db)[i, 3], (*this.db)[i, 4], (*this.db)[i, 7], (*this.db)[i, 8]) } // End of Loop } // End of Method definition // Function to retrieve string matrix with look up data string matrix Ipeds::getIpeds() { // Allocates variables for the search and save paths string scalar searchpath, savepath, compiled // Matrix file will get stored in subdirectory of PERSONAL path savepath = pathsubsysdir("PERSONAL") // Only search in present directory and i subdirectory of PERSONAL searchpath = pathjoin(savepath, "i") + ";" + pwd() compiled = findfile("ipedsdb.mmat", searchpath) // If a compiled version of the matrix exists on the search path, call // the function to load the matrix from the binary file if (compiled != "") return(loadCompiledMatrix(compiled)) // Otherwise call the function to read/parse the csv file from disk else return(loadRawMatrix(savepath)) } // End of function definition // Check to see if necessary directory structure exists void Ipeds::checkDirectory(string scalar savepath) { // Checks to see if there is an i subdirectory off of PERSONAL on the adopath if (direxists(pathjoin(savepath, "i")) != 1) { // If that doesn't exist and the PERSONAL directory doesn't exist, create // the PERSONAL directory if (direxists(savepath) != 1) mkdir(savepath) // Make the i subdirectory in PERSONAL mkdir(pathjoin(savepath, "i")) } // End of IF Block } // End of function definition // Function to parse the matrix from a CSV flat file string matrix Ipeds::loadRawMatrix(string scalar savepath) { // Object used to store all of the data string matrix ipedsdb // Initializes string matrix ipedsdb = J(963, 8, "") // dbfh csv file handle, i = iterator, writer = file handle for writing to disk real scalar dbfh, i, writer // colraw stores headers, csvpath stores location of csv, line used to store // individual records from file temporarily string scalar csvpath, line // Calls the checkDirectory method defined above checkDirectory(savepath) // Gets fully qualified file path to csv file csvpath = findfile("ipedsdb.csv") // Opens file connection with CSV file dbfh = fopen(csvpath, "r") // Opens file connection to `c(personal)'/i/ipedsdb.mmat to store the data writer = fopen(pathjoin(savepath, "i") + "/ipedsdb.mmat", "w") // Gets column headers this.colraw = fget(dbfh) // Iterates over the rows of the csv file for (i = 1; i <= rows(ipedsdb); i++) { // Gets the ith record line = fget(dbfh) // Stores this record in the string matrix along with a record ID ipedsdb[i, (1..6)] = (select(tokens(line, ","), tokens(line, ",") :!= ","), strofreal(i)) ipedsdb[i, (7, 8)] = ( strofreal(regexm(ipedsdb[i, 3], "revised")), strofreal(regexm(ipedsdb[i, 3], "preliminary"))) } // End of Loop over records in CSV file // Closes file connection to csv file fclose(dbfh) // Writes string matrix to disk in binary format fputmatrix(writer, ipedsdb) // Closes file connection to binary matrix file fclose(writer) // Returns the string matrix return(ipedsdb) } // End of function definition // If compiled matrix exists use this function for loading string matrix Ipeds::loadCompiledMatrix(string scalar path) { // File handle value real scalar fh // Object to store string matrix string matrix ipeds // Open read only connection to file fh = fopen(path, "r") // Load the string matrix ipeds = fgetmatrix(fh) // Close the file connection fclose(fh) // Return the string matrix return(ipeds) } // End of function definition // Method to print unique combinations of survey names and survey years to screen void Ipeds::listSurveysByYear() { // Declares iterator for loop below real scalar i // Prints heading for the returned results printf("\nSurveys by Year : \n") // Loops over the records referenced by the surveyByYearIDs pointer for(i = 1; i <= rows(*this.surveyByYearIDs); i++) { // Prints a formatted string with each datum on its own line printf("\n\tID\t-\t%s\tYear\t-\t%s\tSurvey\t-\t%s\n", (*this.surveyByYearIDs)[i, 3], (*this.surveyByYearIDs)[i, 1], (*this.surveyByYearIDs)[i, 2]) } // End of Loop } // End of Method definition // Method to print unique combinations of titles and survey years to screen void Ipeds::listTitlesByYear() { // Declares iterator for loop below real scalar i // Prints heading for the returned results printf("\nTitles by Year : \n") // Loops over the records referenced by the titleByYearIDs pointer for(i = 1; i <= rows(*this.titleByYearIDs); i++) { // Prints a formatted string with each datum on its own line printf("\n\tID\t-\t%s\tYear\t-\t%s\nTitle : %s\n", (*this.titleByYearIDs)[i, 3], (*this.titleByYearIDs)[i, 1], (*this.titleByYearIDs)[i, 2]) } // End of Loop } // End of Method definition // Method to print unique combinations of titles and survey names to screen void Ipeds::listTitlesBySurvey() { // Declares iterator for loop below real scalar i // Prints heading for the returned results printf("\nTitles by Survey Names : \n") // Loops over the records referenced by the titleBySurveyIDs pointer for(i = 1; i <= rows(*this.titleBySurveyIDs); i++) { // Prints a formatted string with each datum on its own line printf("\n\tID\t-\t%s\tSurvey\t-\t%s\nTitle : %s\n", (*this.titleBySurveyIDs)[i, 3], (*this.titleBySurveyIDs)[i, 1], (*this.titleBySurveyIDs)[i, 2]) } // End of Loop } // End of Method definition // End of the class definition endipeds.mata
Use your ado wrapper to instantiate the object with the same name.
// Define program prog def ipeds, rclass // Set minimum version required version 14.0 // Define syntax syntax anything(name = subcmd id = "Need to provide ipeds subcommand.") /// [, Years(passthru) SURVeys(passthru) TItles(passthru) REvised(passthru) /// PRELiminary(passthru) ids(passthru) FROMSearch SAVEPath(passthru) /// FILETypes(passthru) ] // Stores the current working directory loc current `c(pwd)' // Splits the sub command local into ipedssub and ipedsopt gettoken ipedssub ipedsopt : subcmd // Check for existence of Ipeds instance named ipeds mata: st_local("ipedsExists", strofreal(findexternal("ipeds") == NULL)) // If the ipeds object doesn't exist initialize it if `ipedsExists' == 1 mata: ipeds = Ipeds() // Defines rootpath for downloads // Deprecated...storing this in Mata object persistently // loc root "https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/datacenter/data" // If subcommand is for searching ipeds if `"`ipedssub'"' == "search" { // Calls search subroutine ipeds_search, `years' `surveys' `titles' `revised' `preliminary' // Returns value passed to the years parameter ret loc ipeds_search_years `r(ipeds_search_years)' // Returns value passed to the survey names parameter ret loc ipeds_search_surveys `r(ipeds_search_surveys)' // Returns value passed to the survey titles parameter ret loc ipeds_search_titles `r(ipeds_search_titles)' // Returns value passed to the revised data parameter ret loc ipeds_search_revised `r(ipeds_search_revised)' // Returns value passed to the preliminary results parameter ret loc ipeds_search_preliminary `r(ipeds_search_preliminary)' // Returns value passed to the ids parameter ret loc ipeds_search_ids `r(ipeds_search_ids)' // Returns indicator that a search was performed ret loc ipeds_searched `r(ipeds_searched)' } // End IF Block for ipeds search subcommand // Check if the subcommand is browse else if `"`ipedssub'"' == "browse" { // Calls browse subroutine ipeds_browse `ipedsopt' // Returns a local macro indicating what was browsed ret loc ipeds_browsed `r(ipeds_browsed)' } // End of ELSE IF Block for browse sub command // If sub command is download else if `"`ipedssub'"' == "download" { // Calls download subroutine ipeds_download, `years' `surveys' `titles' `revised' `preliminary' /// `ids' `fromsearch' `savepath' `filetypes' returnto(`current') // Returns indicator of which download method was used ret loc ipeds_download `r(ipeds_download)' } // End ELSE IF Block for downloading files // If not one of the available subcommands else { // Print to the results window di as err "Invalid ipeds subcommand. See " in smcl {help ipeds} /// as err "for valid subcommands" // Issue generic error code err 198 } // End ELSE Block for handling syntax errors // End of ipeds program end // Subroutine for searching prog def ipeds_search, rclass // Defines calling syntax syntax [ , years(string asis) surveys(string asis) titles(string asis) /// revised(string asis) preliminary(string asis) ids(string asis) istest ] // Calls search functionality mata: ipeds.search("`years'", "`surveys'", "`titles'", "`ids'", /// "`revised'", "`preliminary'") // Sets the ipeds_search_years return macro with the value of years ret loc ipeds_search_years `years' // Sets the ipeds_search_surveys return macro with the value of surveys ret loc ipeds_search_surveys `surveys' // Sets the ipeds_search_titles return macro with the value of titles ret loc ipeds_search_titles `titles' // Sets the ipeds_search_revised return macro with the value of revised data ret loc ipeds_search_revised `revised' // Sets the ipeds_search_preliminary return macro with the value of // preliminary release data parameter ret loc ipeds_search_preliminary `preliminary' // Sets the ipeds_search_ids return macro with the value of record IDs ret loc ipeds_search_ids `ids' // Sets the ipeds_searched macro ret loc ipeds_searched "searched" // End of search subroutine end // Subroutine to list available data prog def ipeds_browse, rclass // Defines calling syntax syntax [ anything(name = what id = "Need to specify what to list") ] // If the sub-sub command is years will list all unique values of years if `"`what'"' == "years" mata: ipeds.listAllYears() // If the sub-sub command is surveys will list all unique survey names else if `"`what'"' == "surveys" mata: ipeds.listAllSurveys() // If the sub-sub command is titles will list all unique survey titles else if `"`what'"' == "titles" mata: ipeds.listAllTitles() // If the sub-sub command is revised will list all records that include the // keyword revised in the title field else if `"`what'"' == "revised" mata: ipeds.listAllRevised() // If the sub-sub command is preliminary will list all records that are // marked as preliminary release files else if `"`what'"' == "preliminary" mata: ipeds.listAllPreliminary() // If the sub-sub command is years will list all unique values of years else if ustrregexm(`"`what'"', "(ye?a?r?s?+)") == 1 & /// ustrregexm(`"`what'"', "(su?r?v?e?y?s?)") == 1 { // Call method to return list of surveys by year mata: ipeds.listSurveysByYear() } // End ELSE IF Block for fuzzy year/survey match // If the sub-sub command is years will list all unique values of years else if ustrregexm(`"`what'"', "(ye?a?r?s?+)") == 1 & /// ustrregexm(`"`what'"', "(ti?t?l?e?s?)") == 1 { // Call method to return list of titles by year mata: ipeds.listTitlesByYear() } // End ELSE IF Block for fuzzy year/title match // If the sub-sub command is years will list all unique values of years else if ustrregexm(`"`what'"', "(ti?t?l?e?s?)") == 1 & /// ustrregexm(`"`what'"', "(su?r?v?e?y?s?)") == 1 { // Call method to return list of titles by survey name mata: ipeds.listTitlesBySurvey() } // End ELSE IF Block for fuzzy title/survey match // Otherwise display all records else mata: ipeds.listAllData() // Returns local containing the specific browse keywords used ret loc ipeds_browse `what' // End of list subroutine end // Define download subroutine prog def ipeds_download, rclass // Calling syntax for download functionality syntax [, ids(string asis) FROMSearch SAVEPath(string) /// FILETypes(real 0) returnto(string asis) ] // Test for valid filetypes values if !inrange(`filetypes', 0, 2) { // Print more informative error message to results window di as err "filetypes parameter must be one of 0, 1, or 2. See " /// in smcl "{help ipeds}" as err " for additional information." // Returns error code err 198 } // End IF Block for in appropriate filetype passed // If user specifies two save paths assume it is data then script if `: word count `savepath'' == 2 gettoken datapath scriptpath : savepath // If a single path is passed to the savepath parameter else { // Set data path to the single path from the parameter loc datapath `savepath' // Set script path to the single path from the parameter loc scriptpath `savepath' } // End ELSE Block for single save path // Makes sure path ends with a path delimiter if !inlist(substr(`"`datapath'"', -1, 1), "/", "\") == 1 loc datapath `"`datapath'/"' // Makes sure path ends with a path delimiter if !inlist(substr(`"`scriptpath'"', -1, 1), "/", "\") == 1 loc scriptpath `"`scriptpath'/"' // If download is based on most recent search results if `"`fromsearch'"' == "fromsearch" { // Call the download by search method mata: ipeds.downloadBySearch(("`datapath'", "`scriptpath'"), `filetypes') // Define returned local macro ret loc ipeds_download "Downloaded from search results" } // End IF block for downloading from search results // If not a search based download else { // Parse the id values into a rowvector string loc dlids "(`: subinstr loc ids " " ", ", all')" // Call the download by ID method with the IDs passed mata: ipeds.downloadByID(`dlids', ("`datapath'", "`scriptpath'"), `filetypes') // Define returned local macro ret loc ipeds_download "Downloaded from ID values" } // End ELSE Block for downloading by specific IDs // Moves back to the initial directory when this subroutine was called cd "`returnto'" // End of download subroutine definition endipeds.ado
What happens when you try to create an object after ipeds is already created?
. run ipeds.mata
. mata
----------------------------------- mata (type end to exit) -----------------------------
: ipeds = Ipeds()
: ipeds2 = Ipeds()
Object ipeds of class Ipeds already exists.
DO NOT USE THIS OBJECT!
Use the existing ipeds object instead.
// The object named ipeds2 doesn't work because it shouldn't have been initialized and
// the warning above told us not to use this object, but use the one named ipeds instead.
: ipeds2.search("", "", "", "223")
Ipeds::search(): 3301 subscript invalid
: - function returned error
r(3301);
// Calling the same method on the Ipeds object named ipeds works without issue.
: ipeds.search("", "", "", "223")
1 2 3 4 5 6
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| 223 2010 Institutional Characteristics Directory information HD2010_Data_Stata.zip HD2010_Stata.zip |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
eltype currently.