Adding a Prefix to Variable Names
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Adding a Prefix to Variable Names
 
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Dear List,
Data Managers in my office have cut corners and put similar data from different timepoints in the same excel file. I therefore want to open this into SPSS (fine), split it into n separate datasets (depending on the number of timepoints) and then change the name of the variables in those datasets to reflect when they were recorded, so for timepoint 1, I want all variables to start 'T1'. There are quite a lot of variables here and whilst I know it is possible to rename each of them separately with the relevant prefix, is there a way of doing this as a group of variables? Cheers, Tim. ===================== To manage your subscription to SPSSX-L, send a message to [hidden email] (not to SPSSX-L), with no body text except the command. To leave the list, send the command SIGNOFF SPSSX-L For a list of commands to manage subscriptions, send the command INFO REFCARD |
Re: Adding a Prefix to Variable Names
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My primitive solution would be: 1. Copy the "base" var names into Excel,
starting at col. 1 row 2. 2. Starting in col. 2 row 1 produce a list of
consecutive numbers 3. In col. 2 row 2 insert the function:
=concatenate("t",B$1,"_",$A2) 4. Relative copy this function into the rest of the
relevant cells 5. You now have t columns, with the specific v
variables (named t1_var1, t1_var2...., t2_var1, t2_var2..., etc):
6. Now you can copy the new var names into the
variables tab of the data file. Alternatively, use the same concatenate function in Excel
to produce the RENAME VARIABLES command and plant it in syntax. If you’re more sophisticated than that, then you
can use the DO REPEAT command to do it automatically. Nirit -----Original Message----- Dear List, Data Managers in my office have cut corners and put
similar data from different timepoints in the same excel file. I therefore
want to open this into SPSS (fine), split it into n separate datasets
(depending on the number of timepoints) and then change the name of the
variables in those datasets to reflect when they were recorded, so for
timepoint 1, I want all variables to start 'T1'. There are quite a lot of variables
here and whilst I know it is possible to rename each of them separately
with the relevant prefix, is there a way of doing this as a group of
variables? Cheers, Tim. ===================== To manage your subscription to SPSSX-L, send a message to [hidden email] (not to SPSSX-L), with no body
text except the command. To leave the list, send the command SIGNOFF SPSSX-L For a list of commands to manage subscriptions, send the
command INFO REFCARD |
Re: Adding a Prefix to Variable Names
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A basic Python solution (I think from Albert-Jan?) is
begin program python. import spssaux, spss vs = spssaux.GetVariableNamesList() spss.Submit("rename variables (%s = %s)." % ( " ".join(vs), " ".join(["T1_" + v for v in vs]) ) ) end program. It will add "T1_" as a prefix to all your variables. If you want only a subset, it'll get a bit more complicated...and I don't have a lot of time now. Alternatively, you can write syntax generating syntax to accomplish it. For which I've no time either... HTH, Ruben van den Berg Consultant Models & Methods TNS NIPO Email: [hidden email] Mobiel: +31 6 24641435 Telefoon: +31 20 522 5738 Internet: www.tns-nipo.com Date: Thu, 8 Jul 2010 15:08:31 +0300 From: [hidden email] Subject: Re: Adding a Prefix to Variable Names To: [hidden email] My primitive solution would be:
1. Copy the "base" var names into Excel, starting at col. 1 row 2. 2. Starting in col. 2 row 1 produce a list of consecutive numbers 3. In col. 2 row 2 insert the function: =concatenate("t",B$1,"_",$A2) 4. Relative copy this function into the rest of the relevant cells 5. You now have t columns, with the specific v variables (named t1_var1, t1_var2...., t2_var1, t2_var2..., etc):
6. Now you can copy the new var names into the variables tab of the data file.
Alternatively, use the same concatenate function in Excel to produce the RENAME VARIABLES command and plant it in syntax.
If you’re more sophisticated than that, then you can use the DO REPEAT command to do it automatically.
Nirit
-----Original Message-----
Dear List,
Data Managers in my office have cut corners and put similar data from different timepoints in the same excel file. I therefore want to open this into SPSS (fine), split it into n separate datasets (depending on the number of timepoints) and then change the name of the variables in those datasets to reflect when they were recorded, so for timepoint 1, I want all variables to start 'T1'. There are quite a lot of variables here and whilst I know it is possible to rename each of them separately with the relevant prefix, is there a way of doing this as a group of variables?
Cheers, Tim.
===================== To manage your subscription to SPSSX-L, send a message to [hidden email] (not to SPSSX-L), with no body text except the command. To leave the list, send the command SIGNOFF SPSSX-L For a list of commands to manage subscriptions, send the command INFO REFCARD New Windows 7: Find the right PC for you. Learn more. |
Re: Adding a Prefix to Variable Names
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In reply to this post by Tim Pickles
Tim
Send more info (ie extract from data)
Art Kendall sent me some syntax for a similar
problem. You can probably adapt it. It produces a new Data Editor
(make sure you save it before copying from it!)
Another trick might be to read in your vars from
Excel and then use
rename variables
to change the names.
Here's an extract from the files (adapted from
Art's) I just used:
data list fixed /item (3x,
f3.0) itemlabel(1x, a90).
begin data (794)No, my strengths are in other areas (795)No, my parents say that other jobs are better (796)No, teaching does not interest me . . .
end
data.
print /' ' item '"' itemlabel '"/'. execute. and here's one I wrote to rename vars:
rename
variables
(token_id.568 to token_id.578 token_id.579 to token_id.598 = token568 to token578 token579 to token598). execute. ..but I see others more expert than I have already
replied.
John Hall
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Re: Adding a Prefix to Variable Names
Administrator
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In reply to this post by Ruben Geert van den Berg
Here's an old-school BP* method:
http://www.spsstools.net/Syntax/LabelsAndVariableNames/ChangeCharacterAtBeginningOfEachVarNames.txt Obviously, it could now be modified to allow variable names longer than 8 characters, and two datasets could be used rather than writing files to disk, etc. And yes, Jon, I do know how much you despise the approach of creating a syntax file which is then included (or inserted). ;-) * BP = Before Python
--
Bruce Weaver bweaver@lakeheadu.ca http://sites.google.com/a/lakeheadu.ca/bweaver/ "When all else fails, RTFM." PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING: 1. My Hotmail account is not monitored regularly. To send me an e-mail, please use the address shown above. 2. The SPSSX Discussion forum on Nabble is no longer linked to the SPSSX-L listserv administered by UGA (https://listserv.uga.edu/). |
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In reply to this post by Ruben Geert van den Berg
Dear All,
I am wondering if some one can explain and/or provide references for the difference or complementarity between Kappa coefficient (or its generalizations) and Kendall's concordance coefficient W
Thank you for your help.
Placide
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Re: Adding a Prefix to Variable Names
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In reply to this post by Ruben Geert van den Berg
Hi there!
I know that there are many using SPSS and do not use the Python Plugin; so if you want to run rename on a whole dataset (similar to Rubens Python) you can also use this script. Just copy the text and save as an SBS-file. All the best Wilhelm (Wille) Landerholm +46-735-460000 Queue/STATB BOX 92 162 12 Vallingby Sweden http://www.qsweden.com http://www.statb.com QUEUE/STATB - your partner in data analysis, data modeling and data mining. 2010/7/8 Ruben van den Berg <[hidden email]>
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