Adding a leading zero and removing spaces

[Jennifer Steffes]

Hi Listserv-
I have a table that has data that I am pulling in from excel.  In comes
into SPSS with the type as numeric with a length of 11.  This variable
(ProvID) should all be 8 long and I need to change it to a string
variable.  However, here are my issues.  First, all of these variables
should be 8, but some of them are 7 because excel removed the leading
zero.  So, I need to add a leading zero to some of them, and wondering
if someone had syntax for this.  Also, when it goes into string from
numeric, a get some spaces in the beginning of the number, which I need
removed.  Any help with this would be much appreciated!
Thanks,
Jenny

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[ViAnn Beadle]

What syntax are you using now?

If the variable is really numeric, then it doesn't have a length of 11--11
digits is a format used to display a floating point number. The string
function on a COMPUTE command changes a number to a string value. The STRING
requires two arguments: 1) the value to be changed, usually a variable, and
2) a format to use when converting it. The N format will place a zero at the
beginning of what is otherwise a 7 digit number, so something like the
following should work:

STRING newstring(a8).
COMPUTE newstring=COMPUTE(var00001,n8).

If var00001 is larger than 8 digits, the results will be set to ********
which is how an overflow value is represented within SPSS.

Look at the example in Help>Command Syntax
Reference>Universals>Transformation Expressions>String/Numeric Conversion
Functions.


-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
Jennifer Steffes
Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 8:18 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Adding a leading zero and removing spaces

Hi Listserv-
I have a table that has data that I am pulling in from excel.  In comes
into SPSS with the type as numeric with a length of 11.  This variable
(ProvID) should all be 8 long and I need to change it to a string
variable.  However, here are my issues.  First, all of these variables
should be 8, but some of them are 7 because excel removed the leading
zero.  So, I need to add a leading zero to some of them, and wondering
if someone had syntax for this.  Also, when it goes into string from
numeric, a get some spaces in the beginning of the number, which I need
removed.  Any help with this would be much appreciated!
Thanks,
Jenny

=====================
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[hidden email] (not to SPSSX-L), with no body text except the
command. To leave the list, send the command
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For a list of commands to manage subscriptions, send the command
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=====================
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[Lombardo, Barbara]

JENNY, THIS IS WHAT I DO WHEN I HAVE THAT PROBLEM:

* Create the field E with 9 decimals

COMPUTE E = provid / 10000000000 .
EXECUTE .

* SET E TO STRING

STRING W(A8).
COMPUTE w = SUBSTR(E,4,8) .
EXECUTE .

Barbara

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
Jennifer Steffes
Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 10:18 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Adding a leading zero and removing spaces

Hi Listserv-
I have a table that has data that I am pulling in from excel.  In comes
into SPSS with the type as numeric with a length of 11.  This variable
(ProvID) should all be 8 long and I need to change it to a string
variable.  However, here are my issues.  First, all of these variables
should be 8, but some of them are 7 because excel removed the leading
zero.  So, I need to add a leading zero to some of them, and wondering
if someone had syntax for this.  Also, when it goes into string from
numeric, a get some spaces in the beginning of the number, which I need
removed.  Any help with this would be much appreciated!
Thanks,
Jenny

=====================
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[hidden email] (not to SPSSX-L), with no body text except the
command. To leave the list, send the command
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For a list of commands to manage subscriptions, send the command
INFO REFCARD

=====================
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[Oliver, Richard]

*create some sample data.
data list free /numvar (f11).
begin data
1 12 123 1234 12345 1234567 12345678
end data.
*now the real code.
string stringvar (a8).
compute stringvar=string(numvar, n8).
*alternatively, just change the format of numvar.
formats numvar (n8).
execute.

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Lombardo, Barbara
Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2007 10:01 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: Adding a leading zero and removing spaces

JENNY, THIS IS WHAT I DO WHEN I HAVE THAT PROBLEM:

* Create the field E with 9 decimals

COMPUTE E = provid / 10000000000 .
EXECUTE .

* SET E TO STRING

STRING W(A8).
COMPUTE w = SUBSTR(E,4,8) .
EXECUTE .

Barbara

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
Jennifer Steffes
Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 10:18 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Adding a leading zero and removing spaces

Hi Listserv-
I have a table that has data that I am pulling in from excel.  In comes
into SPSS with the type as numeric with a length of 11.  This variable
(ProvID) should all be 8 long and I need to change it to a string
variable.  However, here are my issues.  First, all of these variables
should be 8, but some of them are 7 because excel removed the leading
zero.  So, I need to add a leading zero to some of them, and wondering
if someone had syntax for this.  Also, when it goes into string from
numeric, a get some spaces in the beginning of the number, which I need
removed.  Any help with this would be much appreciated!
Thanks,
Jenny

=====================
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[hidden email] (not to SPSSX-L), with no body text except the
command. To leave the list, send the command
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=====================
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