[Gretl-users] Index loop exits when mle does not converge

I have to evaluate the finite-sample performance of the ML estimator in the estimation of a 3-parameter distribution, based on simulated samples. The "progressive loop" environment which is set for Monte Carlo studies does not seem to support the mle command. I ended up using the index loop which supports the mle command, while writing the coefficient vector obtained in each loop that is grabbed by $coeff, to successive rows of a pre-defined zero matrix. So far so good. The problem is the following: the distribution appears difficult to estimate in small samples and rather often the convergence criterion for the mle is not met (I don't mind that, this is part of the evaluation of the performance of the MLE). But when this happens, /the loop stops. /The total number of runs of the loop will possibly require some hours to run. If the loop stops every time the mle does not converge, I will have to be constantly overseeing the process for the duration, in order to re-ignite the loop. It would be very convenient if the loop could continue irrespective of whether the mle in a particular loop fails to converge. Is there a way to tell Gretl not to stop the loop, even if the mle fails, to write the container matrix with NANs, and to proceed to the next run; Thank you. -- Alecos Papadopoulos Athens University of Economics and Business, Greece Department of Economics cell:+30-6945-378680 fax: +30-210-8259763 skype:alecos.papadopoulos