How to use LIMDEP on UCD Computers

C. Cameron, Dept. of Economics, Univ. of Calif.-Davis

LIMDEP will soon be available in a full Windows version on PC. At the moment, however, there is only a DOS version on PC -- use MS-DOS prompt from Windows -- or a Unix version on lab computers. The current UCD versions are version 6.0, though version 7.0 has been released.

To download data and Limdep programs for 240D assignments click on the relevant link on the main 240D menu at the course web-site http://www.econ.ucdavis.edu/faculty/cameron. This will show the data or program on the screen. Then save the data by choosing File / Save.

To execute a Limdep program in BATCH MODE on either PC or Unix computers give, for example, the command
limdep <myprog.lim >myprog.out
which executes commands in myprog.lim and puts the output in file myprog.out.

To execute a Limdep program in INTERACTIVE MODE on the PC enter Limdep and then enter the LIMDEP editor by hitting the F5 key. Then read in the program by hitting the F1 key followed by the location and name of the LIMDEP program. This puts the entire pogram in the LIMDEP editor. Then move cursor to the first line you wish to execute and hit F4, and move cursor to the last line you wish to execute and hit F4. This highlights a range of lines. Then hit shift-F4 (version 6.0) or F3 (version 7.0) and hit enter to begin execution of these lines. Hit enter more times as the program executes if prompted.

In addition to the programs given at the course website, a simple test program is
SAMPLE; 1-10 $
CREATE; X=rnn(0,1) $
LIST; X $
DSTAT; rhs=X $
STOP $
which creates ten standard normal variates, lists them, and obtains descriptive statistics on them.
 

Saving and printing out LIMDEP results

LIMDEP produces ascii (or text) output.
If running Limdep in batch mode we have already indicated how to produce the output file.
If running Limdep in interactive mode on the PC send output to a file on the A: drive (or C: drive) using e.g. OPEN; OUTPUT=A:MYOUT.OUT $
When finished close this output file by exiting Limdep using STOP $
Note that until you give the command STOP nothing will have been written to your output file, it will just have been stored in memory.

Lmdep produces a lot of output. Much of it is unneeded. Before printing out results select what you need using your favorite text editor. You can choose to enter DOS, or you can re-enter LIMDEP and use command F6 to get into the LIMDEP DOS shell. Then go DIR A: for directory listing or EDIT A:MYOUT.OUT to look at it.

Limdep output, like other statistical output, looks nicest if you print using a proportional font, where all characters take exactly the same space so that tabulated results are aligned. It is standard to use Courier font. You will need 9 point font so that output does not spill over two lines. Edit A:MYOUT.OUT so that you eliminate unnecessary output, including unnecessary skips to a new page.

Printing graphics output, i.e. plots, is different. Within Limdep save these as a print file. Then once back in Windows print them by choosing the UCS Utilities group and using the "Print file made by print to file" utility.
 

Documentation for LIMDEP

The labs have copies of the Limdep Manual. In addition there is an abridged 40-page version of the manual called the Reference Guide.

To order your own copy of the Limdep manual call 516-938-5254. I very strongly recommend this for anyone intending to analyze cross-section data in their research.

The Limdep manual is available on line at LIMDEP manual. This comes in pdf, ps and html formats. Unfortunately, html does not carry over math. You need additional software to view the better pdf or ps versions. The manual is 900 pages, so it is expensive to print it out.