Using Stata for Survey Data Analysis

Data Editor window This window shows all the data in memory and allows you to change the data.
We do not recommend using this window because you will have no record of the changes you make 
in the data. It is better to correct errors in the data using a Do-file program that can be saved.
Data Browser window  This window shows all the data in memory. To open the Data Browser, click 
on the “table and circle” button. Unlike SPSS, when the Stata Browser is open, you cannot execute 
any commands. In addition, you also cannot change any of the data. You can, however, sort the data 
or hide certain variables using buttons at the top of the Data Browser window. 
Graph window This window shows the results of recent graphs you have created. It can be opened 
by clicking on the second “box” button or clicking on Windows/Graph.
Viewer window  This window provides help on Stata commands and rules. To use the Viewer 
window, type a command in the space at the top and the Viewer will give you the purpose and rules 
for using that command, along with some examples. Any blue text in the Viewer can be clicked on 
for more information about that command. You can also get help on a specific command by typing 
“help [name of command]” in the Command window. The Viewer window can be opened by clicking 
on Windows/Viewer. 
Do-file Editor window This window allows you to write, edit, save, and execute a Stata program 
(like the Syntax Editor window in SPSS). A Stata program (or Do-file) is simply a set of Stata 
commands written by the user. The advantage of using the Do-file Editor rather than the Command 
window is that the Do-file allows you to save, revise, and rerun a set of commands. Exploratory 
analysis of the data can be done with the menu system or the Command window, but most data 

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