`nwgen`

Network extensions to generate

Syntax

nwgen newnetname = netfcn(arguments) [, options]
nwgen newnetname = netexp [if] [, options]

Description

The command generates a network. It can be used either with a) some function netfnc or b) with a network expression netexp.

netfcn is one of:

duplicate(netname) [, xvars]
Duplicate a network (see nwduplicate).
dyadprob(netname) , density(float) [undirected xvars]
Generate a network based on tie probabilities (see nwdyadprob).
geodesic(netname) [,
unconnected(integer)
nosym
xvars]
Generate a network of shortest paths between nodes (see nwgeodesic).
homophily(varname), homophily(float) density(float) […]
Generate a homophily network (see nwhomophily).
lattice(rows cols) [, undirected xwrap ywrap xvars]
Generate a lattice network (see nwlattice).
large(netname)
Extract the largest component as a network.
path(netname), ego(nodeid) alter(nodeid) [length(int) sym xvars]
Not currently implemented as a shortcut - nwpath can produce zero, one, or several
output networks (one per shortest path found), which does not fit this command’s own “exactly one
network per call” form. Use nwpath directly - its own generate() option names one
network per path found.
permute(netname) [, xvars]
Random permutation of a network (see nwpermute).
pref(nodes) [, m0(int) m(int) prob(float) undirected xvars]
Generate a preferential attachment a network (see nwpref).
random(nodes) [, prob(float) density(float) undirected xvars]
Generate a random network (see nwrandom).
reach(netname) [, nosym xvars]
Generate a reachability network (see nwreach).
ring(nodes) , k(int) [undirected xvars]
Generate a ring lattice (see nwring).
small(nodes) , k(int) [prob(float) shortcuts(int) undirected xvars]
Generate a small-world network (see nwsmall).
transpose(netname)
Transpose a network (see nwtranspose).

The shortcuts above all generate a new network. A second family generates a per-node variable instead - nwgen newvarname = netfcn(netname) - each a thin dispatch to an already-existing, dedicated command’s own generate() option:

degree(netname), outdegree(netname), indegree(netname)
Degree centrality (see nwdegree). degree() on a directed network is total degree
(out+in summed).
isolates(netname)
Isolate indicator (see nwdegree, isolates).
components(netname), lgc(netname)
Component membership, or a largest-component indicator (see nwcomponents).
clustering(netname)
Clustering coefficient (see nwclustering).
closeness(netname), farness(netname), nearness(netname)
Closeness centrality and its two components (see nwcloseness).
between(netname)
Betweenness centrality (see nwbetween).
evcent(netname)
Eigenvector centrality (see nwevcent).
context(netname), attribute(varname)
Contextual (neighbor-attribute) statistic (see nwcontext) - attribute() is
required and has no default.

Three further keywords are recognized but not implemented as a variable shortcut, since they do not naturally reduce to one value per node: addnodes( (mutates a network’s own node set - see nwaddnodes), subset( (produces a new network, not a variable - see nwsubset), and collapse( (see nwcollapse). Each raises a clear, immediate error rather than silently doing nothing.

Examples

Generate a new network with a network function:

. nwclear
. nwgenerate newnet = random(10), prob(.3)
. nwsummarize newnet

Generate a per-node variable, one value per node, from an existing network:

. nwwebuse florentine, nwclear
. nwgenerate mydeg = degree(flomarriage)
. list mydeg in 1/5

Supported network types

Not applicable to nwgenerate itself - the underlying dispatcher nwgen/nwgenvar both delegate to; the actual directed/valued/two-mode support depends entirely on whichever underlying netfcn/network expression is invoked - see that function’s own help topic.

last certified : 24 Aug 2026