{smcl}
{* 14jul2005}{...}
{hline}
help for {hi:encodel}{right: El }
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{title:Change string variables to labeled numerics}

{p 8 17 2}
{cmd:encodel} {varlist} , [ {cmdab:l:abel(}{it:label-name}{cmd:)} {cmdab:m:ultilabel} {cmd:yn} {cmdab:non:umber}] 

{title:Description}

{p 4 4 2}{cmd:encodel} is a streamlined version of encode, for bulk changing of string variables to numeric. In the default case, one set of value labels is created and assigned to all variables in {varlist},
with the values and corresponding labels determined by the first variable. If {cmdab:m:ultilabel} is specified, each variable gets it's own set of labels.
Unless {cmdab:non:umber} is specified, the value labels will include the values, post-fixed.

{title:Options} 
 
{p 4 8 2}{cmdab:l:abel()} specifies a label name. If it is not specified, the label name will be the the name of the first variable in {it:varlist}, with the suffix {bf:_enc}. 
 
{p 4 8 2}{cmdab:m:ultilabel} overrides {cmdab:l:abel()}, and results in each variable in {varlist} being labeled independently, with it's own values, and with each label name matching its variable name, with the suffix {bf:_enc}. 
 
{p 4 8 2}{cmd:yn} overrides both {cmdab:l:abel()} and {cmdab:m:ultilabel}. It treats all variables in {varlist} as yes/no variables, converts them to 0/1, and applies the value labels "No" and "Yes", with the label name "yn". 
 
{p 8 8 2}In this case, the command will convert all varieties of {bf:n}, {bf:no}, {bf:f}, and {bf:false} to 0, and all varieties of {bf:y}, {bf:yes}, {bf:t}, and {bf:true} to 1. 

{p 4 8 2}{cmdab:non:umber} prevents the values for each label from being included in the label.

{title:Also see}

{pstd}Online: help for {help encode}

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