r - How to find a common variable in a large number of databases using Stata -

so have large number of databases (82) in stata, each contain around 1300 variables , several thousand observations. of these databases contain variables give mean or standard deviation of concepts. example, variable in such dataset called "leverage_mean". now, want know datasets contain variables called concept_mean or concept_sd, without having go through every dataset hand.

i thinking maybe there way loop through databases looking variables containing "mean" or "sd", unfortunately have idea how this. i'm using r , stata datafiles.

yes, can loop in stata r. first, should check out stata command ds , package findname, many of things described here , more. show happening "under hood", i'll show stata code can achieve below:

/*set current directory location of databases*/ cd "[your cd here]" 

save names of 82 databases list called "filelist" using stata's dir function macros. note: don't specify kind of file database files are, i'm assuming .xls. command saves files extension ".xls" list. type of file save list , how import database depend on type of files reading in.

local filelist : dir . files "*.xls" 

then loop on files show ones contain variables end "_sd" or "_mean".

foreach file of local filelist {     /*import data*/     import excel "`file'", firstrow clear case(lower)      /*produce list of variables end "_sd" , "_mean"*/      cap quietly describe *_sd *_mean, varlist     if length("r(varlist)") > 0 {      /*if database contains variables of interest, display database file name , variables on screen*/          display "database `file' contains variables: " r(varlist)     } } 

final note, loop display database name , variables of interest contained within it. if want perform actions on data, or else, actions need included in position of final "display" command (which may or may not need).