Stata error when using new commands

Question

I need some help with Stata. I'm not sure if this is the right forum, but hopefully somebody can help me.

The problem occur, when I want to use new commands in stata. I will explain it with an example: command outreg. I assume the problem is the version.

Stata Details:

• Version 10.1

• Unlimited-user Stata for Windows (network) perpetual license (decompressed in C:\Program Files (x86)\Stata)

I downloaded the command ssc install outreg

I tried the new command with the example given here: http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/stata/faq/outreg.htm

After execution, the following error occur, after outreg using test.doc, nolabel replace

          MakeSmat():  3499  _CColJoin() not found
         CalcStats():     -  function returned error
             <istmt>:     -  function returned error

Stata.com also provide a solution for the problem: http://www.stata.com/statalist/archive/2011-07/msg01018.html but a restart of stata doesn't work for my problem.

The necessary library (l_cfrmt described in the stata.com link) is also available:

. mata : mata query
    Mata settings
        set matastrict      off
        set matalnum        off
        set mataoptimize    on
        set matafavor       space      may be space or speed
        set matacache       400        kilobytes
        set matalibs        lmatabase;lmataado;lmataopt;l_cfrmt
        set matamofirst     off

But when I search for the usage of the library l_cfrmt (which is necessary for outreg) there occur the following error-message:

. mata : mata desc using l_cfrmt
c:\ado\plus\l\l_cfrmt.mlib from a more recent version of Stata

It looks, if the version, which I loaded via ssc is not compatible with the Version 10.1 of Stata.

Does somebody have any idea how to solve this problem? I search for a few hours now, but I did't find any possible solution.

Regards, Michael

Answer 1

First, the code you found on the ucla website for -outreg- is not correct -- John Gallup has since made many changes to the latest version of -outreg-, one of which affects your example. (ignoring your mata issue for a moment) This code should be modified to this in order to make it run:

**install latest outreg
ssc install outreg, replace

use http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/stata/notes/hsb1, clear
regress read write
 outreg using test.doc, novarlabel replace

the code above works on my machine with an updated version of Stata 12 MP and updated -outreg- version 4.12.

Regarding the mata error: It might be the case that the newest -outreg- just might not work with Stata 10.1 - but I wouldn't give up yet. First, make sure your Stata is fully updated (-update query- and -update all-).
Second, follow the advice of the author of -outreg- in this Statalist thread:

http://www.stata.com/statalist/archive/2011-07/msg01014.html

Finally, if you do have a missing mata component/library, as that thread hints at, and cannot follow this advice to correct it, then consider re-installing Stata and/or contacting Stata tech support.