Inconsistency between sections 8.4 and 9.5 of the Stan Reference Manual #196
Description
Summary:
Hi, there seems to be a small inconsistency in the Stan Reference Manual: sections 8.4 and 9.5 seem to contradict each other.
Description:
Section 8.4 (Program Block: transformed data) reads:
Restriction on Operations in transformed data
The statements in the transformed data block are designed to be executed once and have a deterministic result. Therefore, log probability is not accumulated and sampling statements may not be used. Random number generating functions are also prohibited.
Section 9.5 (User-Defined Functions: Function Bodies) reads:
Random Number Generating Functions
Functions that call random number generating functions in their bodies must have a name that ends in _rng; attempts to use random-number generators in other functions lead to a compile-time error.
Like other random number generating functions, user-defined functions with names that end in _rng may be used only in the generated quantities block and transformed data block, or within the bodies of user-defined functions ending in _rng.
After some quick testing it seems that the text in 9.5 is correct - you can use _rng functions in the transformed data block. I'd propose to simply remove that one sentence from section 8.4.
Current Version:
v2.23