{smcl}
{* 13aug2009}{...}
{hi:help callst}
{hline}

{title:Title} 
 
{cmd:callst} {hline 2} Call StatTransfer from Stata

{title:Syntax}

{p 8 17 2}
{cmdab:callst} [{help altpath:{it:alt-path}}] {cmd:,} 
[ {cmdab:d:estination(}{help altpath:{it:alt-path}}{cmd:)} {opt c:onfig(SToptions)} ]

{pmore}Where {it:SToptions} are of the form:

{pmore2}[{opt type(file-type)}]

{pmore2}[{opt keep(varlist)}] 

{pmore2}[{opt drop(varlist)}] 

{pmore2}[{opt where(expression)}] 

{pmore2}[{opt set(setup-option)} [{opt set(setup-option)} {cmd:...}]]

{pmore2}[{opt dbr(parameters)}] [{opt dbw(parameters)}]

{pmore2}[{opt copy(table/worksheet/cells/member)}] 

{title:Description}

{pstd}{cmd:callst} invokes StatTransfer to copy data into and out of Stata data files (ie, extension {cmd:.dta}).
There should seldom be a reason to invoke this command directly, since other commands (e.g., {cmd:usel}, {cmd:savel}, {cmd:mergel}) automatically make use of {cmd:callst}'s capabilities.

{pstd}The command's main parameter is the source, or data file {it:to be translated}. When the transfer is from an ODBC data source (and only then), no main parameter is supplied.

{pstd}For setting the default behavior of StatTransfer when used from Stata, see {bf:Remarks}, below.

{title:Options}

{phang}{cmdab:d:estination(}{help altpath:{it:alt-path}}{cmd:)} specifies a pathname for the newly translated data.
If {opt d:estination()} is not specified, the new name and location will the the same as the original file, with only the extension changed. (Usually, that would be to {cmd:.dta})

{phang}{opt c:onfig(SToptions)} passes configuration information along to StatTransfer. There are six possible suboptions:

{phang2}{opt type(file-type)} specifies the format of the foreign data, whether source or destination.
This sub-option is only needed when the file extension is ambiguous (or misleading). {helpb callst##type:see below}

{phang2}{opt keep(varlist)} specifies variables from the orignating file to be kept. A Stata {varlist} should generally work; variables with odd characters should be single-quoted.

{phang2}{opt drop(varlist)} specifies variables from the orignating file to be kept. A Stata {varlist} should generally work; variables with odd characters should be single-quoted.

{phang2}{opt where(expression)} is the equivalent of a Stata {bf:if} clause, specifying observations to keep. The format is slightly different. {helpb callst##where:see below}

{phang2}{opt set(setup-option)} passes along StatTransfer {cmd:SET} commands. Any number of {opt set()} sub-options may be included in {opt c:onfig()}. 
For example: {cmd:config(set(preserve-case Y) set(read-sas-fmts N))}.

{phang2}{opt copy(table/worksheet/cells/member)} specifies, for some file types, which part of the file to use. {helpb callst##piece:see below}

{title:Remarks}

{pstd}Remarks are divided into sections for the various {opt config(SToptions)} suboptions, and (sometime in the future) on default configuration.

{marker type}
INCLUDE callst_type
   
{title:Also see}

{psee}Online: help for {help usel}, {help savel}, {help mergel}

{pstd}Contact: {browse "mailto:elliott.lowy@va.gov":Elliott Lowy}