nwreplacemat
Replace network with Stata or Mata matrix
Syntax
nwreplacemat
[netname]
,
newmat(matname)
[nosync
netonly
xvars
vars(newvarlist)
labs(lab1 lab2 ...)]
newmat(matname) |
name of a Stata or Mata matrix |
nosync |
do not sync Stata variables; by default Stata variables are synced (see nwsync) |
netonly |
only update the network, do not touch the Stata dataset at all |
xvars |
also load the updated network as Stata variables (see nwload) |
vars(newvarlist) |
Stata variable names to use when matname requires resizing the network; default = auto-generated |
labs(lab1 lab2 …) |
new node labels to use when matname requires resizing the network; default = 1, 2, … |
Description
nwreplacemat changes a network by replacing the adjacency matrix of the network with an existing Mata matrix.
The command checks if the Stata/Mata matrix matname has the correct dimensions.
By default, the command also checks if the new adjacency matrix is symmetric and if yes, it alters the meta-information of the network (directed => undirected). In case, one still wants to assign a perfectly symmetric matrix to a directed network, one can use:
nwname [netname], directed(true)
to overwrite the automatic setting afterwards.
Examples
This example generates a ring lattice first (mynet), but then replaces the adjacency matrix of this network with a new Mata matrix J(5,5,99).
. nwring 5, k(1), name(mynet)
. mata: net = J(5,5,99)
. nwreplacemat mynet, newmat(net)
. nwsummarize mynet, matonly
1 2 3 4 5
+-------------------------+
1 | 0 |
2 | 99 0 |
3 | 99 99 0 |
4 | 99 99 99 0 |
5 | 99 99 99 99 0 |
+-------------------------+
Supported network types
Binary: yes. Directed: yes - this command’s entire purpose is writing an arbitrary matrix in as the network’s own adjacency matrix, whatever directed/symmetric shape it has. Weighted: yes, natively. Signed: yes, any value including negative can be written in. Two-mode: yes - the matrix must not hold a tie between two nodes of the same mode (error 459).
See also
nwcommands version 3.17.6, 9 November 2026 (check your installed version)