The default type of GVEKY in Compustat is string. Sometimes, we need it to be a numerical type in Stata (e.g., when we want to use the super handy command tsset). The command to convert string GVKEY to numerical GVEKY is very simple:
destring gvkey, replace
The command to revert numerical GVKEY to string GVKEY with leading zeros is as follows:
tostring gvkey, replace format(%06.0f)
Hi Kai,
Thank you very much for your sharing. Your code inspires me a lot and I think we can do the same things in SAS for conversion.
From string GVKEY to numerical GVKEY :
gvkey_numerical=input(gvkey_string, best12.);
And from numerical GVKEY to string GVKEY :
gvkey_string=put(gvkey_numerical, z6.);
Best Regards,
Blair