I have around 40 files that I would like to append together. However, two variables named a12 and a13 are problematic because they can take three different shapes :

- Numeric
- String with only numeric values
- String with alphanumeric values

I guess the fastest way to convert them would be to turn the numeric a12 and a13 variables into string variables, but when running the code:

Code:
foreach co of global countries{
    use ``country'_finaldata', clear 
    foreach appendvar of varlist a12 a13 {
        tostring `appendvar', replace
    }
    save ``country'_finaldata', replace
}
I get the following result :

Code:
a12 has value label; no replace
a13 has value label; no replace
Can't I use the replace option for these variables ? If not, what would be an efficient programming to turn all the variables into string ones?