program define leadchar
*! v 1.1 gmh 10apr2005
syntax varname, Digits(integer) [LEAD(string)] [TOSTRING REPLACE ]

if "`lead'"=="" {
	local lead "0"
	}

local length= length("`lead'")
if `length'~= 1 {
	di in red "Leading character should be one character."
	exit 
	}


capture confirm string variable `varlist'

if _rc==7 {

if  "`tostring'"~="" {
	tostring `varlist', `replace'
	}
else {
	di in ye "`varlist' " in gr "is not a string variable. Include option " in ye "tostring" in gr " to convert to string."
	}

}
qui replace `varlist'=trim(`varlist')

local i = 1
while `i' <= `digits' {
	qui replace `varlist' = "`lead'" + `varlist' if length(`varlist')<`digits'
	local ++i
	}

end