Split select variables into dummy variables

[matthew-white]

We've been getting requests for an option to split select fields into dummy variables, such that each choice of each select field is split into a set of dummy variables, one for each possible value of the associated list. Let's add this option or add an example to the help file that uses an existing SSC program.

[samhall555]

http://ideas.repec.org/c/boc/bocode/s429201.html --> "mrdum" is available on ssc : after getting the data imported into stata using odkmeta, its quite easy to generate the necessary dummy variables.

http://www.stata-journal.com/sjpdf.html?articlenum=st0082 discusses the use of "mrtab" for tabulation of the polytomous data types.

Quite helpful.

[matthew-white]

Looks perfect, thanks! I'll note this in the help file.

Do you use the char metadata to automate the use of mrdum? Perhaps it'd be useful to include that in the help file as well.