Can anyone explain?

[Staffan Lindberg]

Dear list!

For illustration purposes, I have the following dataset:

VARA     VARB
1             4
2             5
3             6

Say that write the following syntax::

RECODE VARB (5=sysmis).

This is a perfectly valid statement. Wereas If I write:

IF (VARA EQ 2)VARB=sysmis.

This is regarded an invalid statement and I get the error message:
.
>Error # 4285 in column 20.  Text: sysmis
>Incorrect variable name: either the name is more than 64 characters,
or it is
>not defined by a previous command.
>Execution of this command stops

Why is this? The only practical difference that I can see is that I
inserted a conditional clause in the implied recode statement.

best

Staffan Lindberg
Stockholm
Sweden.

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[Jon K Peck]

The IF should refer to $sysmis.  $sysmis is a value while in RECODE, LO, HI, THRU, MISSING, SYSMIS, and ELSE are keywords.  In RECODE is it possible to distinguish these keywords unambiguously from values, while the IF statement would attempt to assign the value of a variable named SYSMIS.


Jon Peck (no "h") aka Kim
Senior Software Engineer, IBM
[hidden email]
phone: [phone]




From:        "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]>
To:        [hidden email],
Date:        05/13/2014 06:37 AM
Subject:        [SPSSX-L] Can anyone explain?
Sent by:        "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <[hidden email]>

---

Dear list!

For illustration purposes, I have the following dataset:

VARA     VARB
1             4
2             5
3             6

Say that write the following syntax::

RECODE VARB (5=sysmis).

This is a perfectly valid statement. Wereas If I write:

IF (VARA EQ 2)VARB=sysmis.

This is regarded an invalid statement and I get the error message:
.
>Error # 4285 in column 20.  Text: sysmis
>Incorrect variable name: either the name is more than 64 characters,
or it is
>not defined by a previous command.
>Execution of this command stops

Why is this? The only practical difference that I can see is that I
inserted a conditional clause in the implied recode statement.

best

Staffan Lindberg
Stockholm
Sweden.

=====================
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[Bruce Weaver]

Try this:

IF (VARA EQ 2) VARB = $sysmis.


And then search the list archives for one of Art K's posts on missing data, and why SYSMIS should not be used when the reason for the missing data is known.  ;-)

Staffan Lindberg wrote

Dear list!

For illustration purposes, I have the following dataset:

VARA     VARB
1             4
2             5
3             6

Say that write the following syntax::

RECODE VARB (5=sysmis).

This is a perfectly valid statement. Wereas If I write:

IF (VARA EQ 2)VARB=sysmis.

This is regarded an invalid statement and I get the error message:
.
>Error # 4285 in column 20.  Text: sysmis
>Incorrect variable name: either the name is more than 64 characters,
or it is
>not defined by a previous command.
>Execution of this command stops

Why is this? The only practical difference that I can see is that I
inserted a conditional clause in the implied recode statement.

best

Staffan Lindberg
Stockholm
Sweden.

=====================
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command. To leave the list, send the command
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[PRogman]

SYSMIS is a keyword in RECODE, in assignments use system variable $Sysmis, or perhaps use:
MISSING VALUES VarA (5).

/PR

[PRogman]

Hm, may have misread: 1) VarB and it was conditional... /PR

[Art Kendall]

Do you know why a value of 5 for varb is to be considered missing?
If so, you would be better off by declaring 5 a missing value, or by recoding to another value that you declare missing.

This allows you to apply a value label to the missing value.

Jon gave you a technical answer why it wouldn't work.

I would still like SPSS to give a warning for the undesirable but syntactically correct usage of a user assigning a sysmis value.
The value is not understood to be treated as missing because the system was unable to do what the user said. The value is understood to be treated as missing because the user said so
On 5/13/2014 8:46 AM, Staffan Lindberg [via SPSSX Discussion] wrote:

Dear list!

For illustration purposes, I have the following dataset:

VARA     VARB
1             4
2             5
3             6

Say that write the following syntax::

RECODE VARB (5=sysmis).

This is a perfectly valid statement. Wereas If I write:

IF (VARA EQ 2)VARB=sysmis.

This is regarded an invalid statement and I get the error message:
.
>Error # 4285 in column 20.  Text: sysmis
>Incorrect variable name: either the name is more than 64 characters,
or it is
>not defined by a previous command.
>Execution of this command stops

Why is this? The only practical difference that I can see is that I
inserted a conditional clause in the implied recode statement.

best

Staffan Lindberg
Stockholm
Sweden.

=====================
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[Rick Oliver-3]

To elaborate a little:

SYSMIS is valid keyword on the RECODE command, and sets the value to the value of the system variable $SYSMIS.

The IF command does not have a SYSMIS keyword. Instead, you just specify the system variable $SYSMIS.

Rick Oliver
Senior Information Developer
IBM Business Analytics (SPSS)
E-mail: [hidden email]



From:        Bruce Weaver <[hidden email]>
To:        [hidden email],
Date:        05/13/2014 10:13 AM
Subject:        Re: Can anyone explain?
Sent by:        "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <[hidden email]>

---

Try this:

IF (VARA EQ 2) VARB = $sysmis.


And then search the list archives for one of Art K's posts on missing data,
and why SYSMIS should not be used when the reason for the missing data is
known.  ;-)




Staffan Lindberg wrote
> Dear list!
>
> For illustration purposes, I have the following dataset:
>
> VARA     VARB
> 1             4
> 2             5
> 3             6
>
> Say that write the following syntax::
>
> RECODE VARB (5=sysmis).
>
> This is a perfectly valid statement. Wereas If I write:
>
> IF (VARA EQ 2)VARB=sysmis.
>
> This is regarded an invalid statement and I get the error message:
> .
>>Error # 4285 in column 20.  Text: sysmis
>>Incorrect variable name: either the name is more than 64 characters,
> or it is
>>not defined by a previous command.
>>Execution of this command stops
>
> Why is this? The only practical difference that I can see is that I
> inserted a conditional clause in the implied recode statement.
>
> best
>
> Staffan Lindberg
> Stockholm
> Sweden.
>
> =====================
> To manage your subscription to SPSSX-L, send a message to

> LISTSERV@.UGA

>  (not to SPSSX-L), with no body text except the
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Bruce Weaver
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"When all else fails, RTFM."

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