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Stata Package Installation

Overview

The package installation module provides a convenient way to install Stata packages from the Statistical Software Components (SSC) archive. It supports automated package installation within Stata-MCP workflows, making it easy to extend Stata's functionality programmatically.

Key Features

SSC Archive Integration

Directly installs packages from the Boston College Statistical Software Components archive:

  • Automatic Installation: Installs packages with a single command
  • Dependency Handling: Stata's package manager handles dependencies automatically
  • Version Management: Supports updating existing packages with the replace option

Cross-Platform Support

Works on all supported operating systems:

  • Windows: Full support through Stata's batch execution mode
  • macOS: Native support through Stata CLI
  • Linux: Native support through Stata CLI

Installation Verification

The module provides built-in verification to ensure successful installation:

  • Checks for installation success messages
  • Handles already-installed packages gracefully
  • Returns clear status messages for troubleshooting

Use Cases

  • Automated Setup: Install required packages in automated research workflows
  • Environment Initialization: Prepare Stata environments with necessary packages
  • Missing Package Recovery: Automatically install packages when commands are not found
  • CI/CD Pipelines: Set up consistent Stata environments in automated testing

How It Works

  1. Command Construction: Builds the appropriate ssc install {package} command
  2. Stata Execution: Sends the installation command to Stata CLI
  3. Result Verification: Checks the output for success indicators
  4. Status Reporting: Returns the installation status and any messages

Installation Behavior

By default, the installer uses the replace option:

  • New Packages: Installs the package for the first time
  • Existing Packages: Replaces with the latest version from SSC
  • Up-to-Date Packages: Skips installation if already at the latest version

Common Packages

Some frequently installed packages include:

  • estout: Regression and estimation tables
  • outreg2: Alternative regression table output
  • coefplot: Coefficient plots
  • tabout: Export tables to various formats
  • graphexport: Enhanced graph export options

Error Handling

The module handles common installation scenarios:

  • Package not found on SSC
  • Network connectivity issues
  • File permission problems
  • Stata license limitations

Example Workflow

// Install a package
ssc install estout

// The module handles:
// 1. Downloading from SSC
// 2. Installing to your Stata ado directory
// 3. Setting up help files
// 4. Verifying installation

Notes

  • Requires internet connection for SSC access
  • Installation speed depends on package size and network connection
  • Some packages may have additional system requirements
  • Always verify package functionality after installation