VARORDER: Stata module for automatic semantic temporal ordering of variables in wide-format Stata datasets

Hao Ma ()
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Hao Ma: NA

Statistical Software Components from Boston College Department of Economics

Abstract: varorder automatically detects and reorganizes eligible temporal variable families in wide-format Stata datasets. The module uses semantic information in variable names, variable labels, variable notes, and attached value-label metadata; recognizes supported ordinary, staged, and hierarchical temporal sequences; and normalizes harmless differences in capitalization, separators, punctuation, and leading zeros internally. Attached value labels provide conservative value-domain or construct evidence but do not by themselves assign a variable-level time position. Ambiguous, conflicting, colliding, related but non-temporal, and unsupported cases are left unchanged. Before changing physical variable order, varorder displays one bounded consolidated preview and asks for a single Enter confirmation. This module changes only physical variable order, preserves data and metadata, applies the proposed permutation transactionally, and provides a single-level undo.

Language: Stata
Requires: Stata version 16
Keywords: data management; variable order (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026-08-22, Revised 2026-09-01
Note: This module should be installed from within Stata by typing "ssc install varorder". The module is made available under terms of the MIT license (https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT).
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http://fmwww.bc.edu/repec/bocode/v/varorder.ado program code (text/plain)
http://fmwww.bc.edu/repec/bocode/v/varorder.sthlp help file (text/plain)
http://fmwww.bc.edu/repec/bocode/v/varorder_test.do program code (text/plain)
http://fmwww.bc.edu/repec/bocode/v/varorder_example.do program code (text/plain)
http://fmwww.bc.edu/repec/bocode/v/varorder_example_data.dta

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