Hello,
I am trying to combine 10 string variables in one. I want space after each variable entry in the new variable. Some of these variables have no values.

When I use the Concat function, then there is no space between the resulting variable entries(see variable crop4). I also tried using catenate command (see variable crop_harvestmain); however, it leaves space for each variable where there is no value. So, if I have values in var 1 var3 var7, catenate gives me "1 3 7", concat gives me "137'; whereas I want "1 3 7" irrespective of which value is missing.
Please help.


Code:
* Example generated by -dataex-. To install: ssc install dataex
clear
input str1(crop_harvest1 crop_harvest2 crop_harvest3) str18 crop_harvestmain str8 crop4
"1" ""  "3" "1  3 4 5 6 7   "  "134567"
""  ""  "3" "  3 4  6    "     "346"    
"1" ""  "3" "1  3 4 5 6    "   "13456"  
"1" ""  ""  "1   4 5 6 7   "   "14567"  
"1" ""  ""  "1    5 6    "     "156"    
"1" ""  ""  "1    5 6    "     "156"    
"1" ""  "3" "1  3 4 5 6 7   "  "134567"
"1" ""  "3" "1  3  5 6 7   "   "13567"  
"1" ""  "3" "1  3  5 6 7   "   "13567"  
"1" ""  "3" "1  3   6    "     "136"    
"1" ""  "3" "1  3 4 5 6    "   "13456"  
"1" ""  "3" "1  3 4 5 6 7   "  "134567"
"1" ""  "3" "1  3  5 6 7   "   "13567"  
"1" ""  "3" "1  3 4 5 6 7   "  "134567"
"1" ""  "3" "1  3  5 6 7   "   "13567"  
"1" ""  "3" "1  3  5 6 7   "   "13567"  
"1" "2" "3" "1 2 3  5 6 7   "  "123567"
"1" ""  ""  "1    5 6    "     "156"    

end