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A diff command for use with data files

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  • Philip Schumm

    (Department of Health Studies, University of Chicago)

Abstract

One of the most important tools in a programmer's tool chest is the diff command. This command permits you to determine immediately if two code files are identical and, when they are not, to generate a patch which summarizes the differences and can be used to transform the first file into the second. In this presentation we shall introduce an analogous tool written for use with data files. Unlike code files in which each line is identified by its physical location within the file, records in a data file are typically identified by one or more indices, each composed of one or more distinct variables. Our tool compares two files based on one or more such indices, provides a compact, readable summary of the differences, and can generate a patch (in the form of a do-file) to update the first file based on the second. This tool is useful during data analysis whenever two or more versions of a data file are encountered, and may also be used by a Data Coordinating Center to manage repeated data submissions from multiple sites. The program was developed using Mata, and some of the programming techniques used will also be discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Philip Schumm, 2006. "A diff command for use with data files," North American Stata Users' Group Meetings 2006 12, Stata Users Group.
    • Handle: RePEc:boc:asug06:12
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