Stata

In Stata is a commercial statistical software, which is available for various operating systems. New versions are usually released every two years.

In Stata, a variety of statistical models is implemented and the program can be expanded through its own software. With Stata print-ready graphics are buildable and a data management, especially for complex data sets (panel, multi-level ) is possible. Since version 9 is a language for matrix computations - called Mata - integrated into the program. The functionality of Stata approached so on complex distributions such as Mathematica. The version published in 2007 Stata10 was equipped with a graphics editor that is designed to simplify the fitting of drawn graphics.

Operation

Stata can be operated via menus as well as via a command line. Stata differs from other programs in that now ( almost) all the standard functions both on the syntax and on the accessible menu. This also irregular users can tap the syntax of the menu and then use automated DO files. Stata is doing (especially for graphics ) than, for example, SPSS, because by syntax, a publication-quality graphics can be generated, which no longer needs to be reworked. A collaboration between Stata and LaTeX is possible.

Background

Stata is understood as a statistical operating system. The user is a programming language available, with whose help he can own Stata programs called ADO write. These programs are made ​​available through the Internet and can be obtained from the other users for free ( from the command line out ). In an extensive documentation, all formulas are used in the program disclosed thereby and by the use of ADO code in official functions, a high level of transparency is guaranteed. Errors are corrected in the current version, free of charge, appearing about monthly updates.

All versions require a memory whose size determines the maximum number of observations, at least 512 MB, and 250 MB of hard disk space.

Alternatives

Other commercial statistical software packages, for example, Minitab, SAS, SPSS, Statgraphics, S -Plus or the now freely available XploRe. Used open source packages are for example PSPP, GNU R or GNU R statistics built on top laboratory and TDA.