That would get my vote. The alternative seems like it could get quite confusing. PS -----Original Message----- From: gretl-devel-bounces(a)lists.wfu.edu [mailto:gretl-devel-bounces@lists.wfu.edu] On Behalf Of Allin Cottrell Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2011 12:48 PM To: Gretl development Subject: Re: [Gretl-devel] user-defined functions and smpl On Thu, 20 Jan 2011, Summers, Peter wrote: In fact it can already do so: "reach-back" to pre-sample values is allowed in general when estimating autoregressive models. But here's a case where the proposal could make a difference: inside the function you want to define some new variables and include them in a VAR. The new variables would be defined only over the current sample range, so (accounting for lags) the start of VAR estimation would be pushed forwards. But you could avoid this, in the function, if you were allowed to push the sample start back for generating the new variables, then reset it for estimation. Allin. _______________________________________________ Gretl-devel mailing list Gretl-devel(a)lists.wfu.edu http://lists.wfu.edu/mailman/listinfo/gretl-devel