Spssx discussion syntax for do if var contains string x. Ive tried many workarounds, but id like to learn a more elegant and direct way of. To select multiple variables that are not grouped together in the variable list, click the first variable, then ctrlclick the next variable, and so on macintosh. Importing data into spss from excel easy spss tutorial. Starting with version 21, ibm spss statistics operates in unicode mode. This allows you to specify how you would like missing values in a string variable to b handled when autorecoded. Jul 09, 20 we can use a simple loop and the pib variable format in spss to clean out unwanted ascii codes in string characters. Because uppercase and lowercase are treated differently in comparisons of string variables, cases for which the value of sex is male are not selected. We can use a simple loop and the pib variable format in spss to clean out unwanted ascii codes in string characters. I need to search the entire variable for a few keywords, then select them out for analysis. The left column lists all of the variables in your dataset. However, instead of just one answer, it is possible to check more than one answer. Flag cases where a given string variable contains a given word. This page provides information on how to access the various help and support features available in ibm spss statistics for mac.
There are several ways that you can change a string variable into a numeric variable. Options in spss for mac os you can personalize your spss session by altering the default opitons settings. Transformation commands in ibm spss statistics fall basically into two categories. To select multiple variables that are grouped together in the variable list, click the first variable and then shiftclick the last variable in the group. Click the arrow in the center to move the selected variable to the center text box, b. Hello spss experts, i have about 10 different data sets that i need to merge into one file.
If either sex or income is missing for a case, the case is not selected. To do this, you need to create a new variable using the compute command. You can then run a filter on the varname1 as ususal hth mike original message from. So for instance if i wanted to replace all the numbers with nothing in a string field i could use this code below where origfield is the original field with the numbers contained, and cleanfield is the subsequent cleaned variable. Spss calculate new variable from two string using ifthen. Spss 17 continues 16s limitations on reading windows and old mac output and continues to read older data and syntax files with no problem. So how do we know if a variable is string or numeric. You could do that, but if all of your missing variable strings are coded as 66, i would just make a new set of variables, recode the 66 to a blank string, and then concatenate the variables all. Like so, working with string variables in spss is super easy. In our example, we need to select the nominal value. Auto recode, and user missing vs system missing duration.
Learn the format and type of spss variables and get in control of your data. String variables are variables that hold zero or more characters such as letters, numbers, spaces, commas and many more. Because the variable score is a string variable, we cannot calculate a mean, etc. The following program reads the instream raw data file and creates an spss data file called auto. Working with variables in spss statistics laerd statistics. Recoding variables spss tutorials libguides at kent. Also, make sure your excel file is closed otherwise spss will not be able to import it. One of the variables is a long string 40 characters that gives the reasons for the visit. The same can also be achieved with the data editor by changing the variable type.
Spss 14 does not have an easy way to do this, but with spss 15, the bonus pack, provided initially to early adopters but generally available later, contains a regular expression processor that makes this type of thing very easy with programmability. Select spss statisticspreferences click the tabs for the settings you want to change. Substr takes two or three arguments as shown by the minimal example below. As you can see from the image below, spss did a good job with our sample data, correctly identifying subjectid, gender, dogowner and frisbeethrowing as data type numeric, and education as data type string. The dataset has 435 observations in all, and spss reports that there are zero missing values. Actually i have to select cases which are starting with stu for analysis. Change a string variable to a numeric variable youtube. Cant assign missing values to string variable in spss. You can then use containstks to filter or select cases. How can i change a string variable into a numeric variable. The ibm spss statistics help features may take up to 5 minutes to fully load. You can change the role by clicking the menu arrow and choosing the desired role from the listed options. The format family is indicated by one or more letters. For example, if one checks answers 02, 05 and 07 it is saved in the variable questiona as the string 02.
If you understand spss variable formats and types, it will help you in getting things done accurately and quickly. Ibm fss fci and counter fraud management 2,364 views. Enter a new name for the autorecoded variable in the new name field, then click add new name. Spssx discussion trimming a numeric or string variables. In the sample data file, the variable state is a string variable representing whether the student is an instate student or an outofstate student. Add any variable pairs from the unpaired variables list that represent the same information recorded under different variable names in the two files. Add any variable pairs from the unpaired variables list that represent the same information recorded under different variable names in. Ibm spss statistics 19 command syntax reference, page 55. I want to search for a couple of specific keywords within the text, and then if it finds any of them, it flags the case by returning a 1. Cant assign missing values to string variable in spss using. Use the transform menu to make changes to selected variables in the data file. Numeric type numeric variables contain values that are in number form, like in scientific notation or standard format. Computing variables spss tutorials libguides at kent state. For information about creating spss files from raw data, see the spss learning module on inputting data into spss.
Unlike sas, spss makes its flagship software for macs and linux as well as windows, using a core statistics engine addressed by a javabased front end. In my spss dataset i have a string variable questiona containing the answer to a certain question. Searching string variable for presence of substring ibm. Be sure you know where you saved your excel data file so you know where to look in.
In spss versions 24 and higher, tiny icons in front of variable names tell us the variable type, format and even measurement level. In the second example, recode is used to convert a string variable into a numeric variable, if the string only contains numerical digits. This tutorial shows how to compute new variables in spss using formulas. To select cases with missing values for the variables within the expression, use the missingvalue functions. To select multiple variables that are not grouped together in the variable list, click the first variable, then ctrlclick the next. Select the next target variable that you want to define, and repeat the. Filter on a string variable hi everyone, i would like to do a filter on a string variable. In this example, mmddyyyy was chosen for the formatted date variable.
The recode into different variables window will appear. Essentially im trying to achieve what this pseudo code says. Systemmissing values cannot be generated for string variables, since any character is a legal string value. How to recode string variables with multiple values in one. Spss for mac os x provides a user interface that makes statistical analysis. To define the type of data contained in the column e. Generate a new temporary variable using automatic recode, where the missing values at the old variable will be easily identified.
If so, it automatically declares the new string variables with the correct lengths that are needed for recoding into. Dear spss listers, i have data that is coded in this fashion bwt 7. Learn more spss calculate new variable from two string using ifthen. I need to select among the records only those that have in the atc variable a string of exactly 3 characters. I have a string variable, containing atc pharmaceutical codes. You are starting down the path of regular expression processing of strings.
Writing little programs in the syntax mode can save a great deal of time, and separates professional programs like spss from software which fills the needs of more. Each openended text variable will be analyzed separately. If all your files have the same variable name you will write all of them using the same write command, because they are string you should use the wides string in the write command, and consider using trim to insure that all string begin on the first column her. In the character encoding for data and syntax group, select locales writing system. Spss select random cases while having a condition on a variable. It is used by the dialogs of some commands to preselect variables for analysis. Copyingrecoding string variables into new variable. Data entry for multiple response questions, tick boxes that apply duration. There is a 4,000character limit on the size width of each text variable imported from a.
Hence, substssn, 1, 3 tells spss to use the variable ssn, start at the first position in the variable and take three characters. How to convert a string variable to a numeric variable duration. Some options in spss allow you to pre select variables for particular analyses based on their defined roles. In all of the examples above, the variable name was input with the format a4 indicating name is an alphabetic string variable with a length of 4. You cant use numeric functions such as addition or subtraction on string variables. How do i create and modify string character variables. For example, within variable list boxes in dialogs, you have the option to display the. That way you only have to compute it once, instead of 3 times.
To check this, click on the variable view tab see red arrow, above. For example, you will see both numeric and string variables in the list of variables from which to. How can i easily convert a string variable to a categorical. Select the dataset or external ibm spss statistics data file to merge with the active dataset. Temporary is a special command that changes the data just for the statistical procedure following it. Any variable that meets the role requirements will be available for use in such analyses. The problem is that most of the variables are string format and for some reason there are different widths for these variables in the corresponding data sets. Add variables merges the active dataset with another open dataset or external ibm spss statistics data file that contains the same cases rows but different variables columns.
Remember that in a string variable, a missing value is a null, or empty, string. In spss, there are no other variable types other than numeric and string. Search for multiple keywords within a string in spss. Remove any variables that you do not want from the variables in new active dataset list. If you create a frequency table of this variable analyze descriptive statistics frequencies, you will notice something strange. An example of using the spssinc select variables extension. Default behavior is to return to the end of the string if omitted. For example, you might want to merge a data file that contains pretest results with one that contains posttest results. A substring is a subset of characters from a string. Select if age mac output and continues to read older data and syntax files with no problem. Try ibm spss statistics subscription make it easier to perform powerful. Cases that meet both conditions are included in subsequent analyses. To compute string variables, the general syntax is virtually identical. Data list fixed make a17 price 1923 mpg 2526 rep78 28 hdroom 3032 f,1 trunk 3435 weight 3740 length 4244 turn.
Thanks for contributing an answer to stack overflow. You can include the same variable more than once in the variable group. Ascertaining spss variable formats spss differentiates write and print formats. Dec 02, 2017 learn how to autorecode a string variable in spss. Sep 19, 20 ive searched high and low and read all of the syntax reference documents with no success, i know you can replace a string within a variable via replace page 337 of the syntax ref that i have but i cant find any reference to a way of using part of a string variable as an argument in a do if statement. Getting a grip on types and formats is not hard if you ignore the very confusing information under variable view. For converting metric string variables holding just numbers into numeric variables, see spss convert string to numeric variable. In my spssdataset i have a stringvariable questiona containing the answer to a certain question. I have a string variable that contains a lot of text. Variable names may be added or changed simply by typing them in. However, just to make things confusing, spss allows you to select among several different standard formats for displaying numeric data e. But numeric variables have varied distinct formats that are often confused with variable types.
See our starting guide to using spss statistics software. My variables are codes assigned to each observation, where observations are turns of speaking in a discussion. Do the following using an address field as example. You can, however, extract one or more characters a substring from them, glue them together concatenate and a couple of other functions. For example, i would search the variable for the keyword transfer, for students who are intending to transfer to a fouryear college, and then analyze the demographics. Threeway crosstab and chisquare statistic for three categorical variables duration. Select the variable you wish to recode by clicking it. For example, recode to some unused string value, like 99999 and set the value 99999 as usermissing afterwards. Oct, 2006 you are starting down the path of regular expression processing of strings. All of the variables in the group must be of the same type numeric or string. The basic variable types are either numeric or string. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on youtube. Stack overflow for teams is a private, secure spot for you and your coworkers to find and share information. After cloning, we can safely recode into the same variables, leaving the variable order intact and minimizing the need for dictionary modifications after recoding.
Spss string function converts numeric values to string values. Select if cannot be placed within a file typeend file type or input programend input program structure. To include cases with values that have been declared usermissing, along with other cases, use the value function. Select the string variable of interest in the left column and move it to the right column. Why cant i see my variables in some of the spss dialog boxes. To recode into different variables, click transform recode into different variables. Ive tried many workarounds, but id like to learn a more elegant and direct way of doing it with a conditonal select if. These variables can be string or long string variables in spss statistics, columns containing general or text cells in microsoft excel, or text or note fields from databases. Im working with string variables in spss and encountered a problem in managing the data. Dec 18, 2007 shalom a simple way to do what you need is to export all you file an reread them. Click on the string variable to be reformatted and select the pattern of the date in the string variable. Understanding spss variable types and formats allows you to get things done fast and reliably. In spss statistics, you need to define your variables, which occurs in the variables view. Spss will assign numeric categories in alphabetical order.
This transformation command selects all observations cases that correspond to the and discards all unselected cases from the. Ive searched high and low and read all of the syntax reference documents with no success, i know you can replace a string within a variable via replace page 337 of the syntax ref that i have but i cant find any reference to a way of using part of a string variable as an argument in a do if statement. A variable is copied rather than moved from the source variable list, and its values are repeated in the new file. The tool also checks whether input variables are string variables. Using spss becomes much, much faster that way, especially if you tend to use powerful tools such as temp select if and do if commands for quickly selecting one or two groups. This merge is adding records and not variables, so each data file has the exact same variable names. One way is to use the number function with the compute command. To select a single variable, simply select it in the source variable list and drag and drop.
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