Changing variable type

[Chris Hunt]

Hi all,

Can anybody tell me how to change a variable from string to numeric using code.  I have looked through help but to no avail.  The variable in question contains numerical data only but imports as text.

Many thanks

Chris

[Jignesh Sutar]

There are are a number of ways to do this. ALTER TYPE would work if running the latest version of SPSS.

 

Otherwise, you have RECODE option using the keyword CONVERT.

 

And also a COMPUTE command with NUMBER function such as

 

Compute NumbVar=NUMBER(strVar,F8.0).

 

HTH,

Jignesh

On 15 December 2010 12:15, Chris Hunt <[hidden email]> wrote:

Hi all,

Can anybody tell me how to change a variable from string to numeric using code.  I have looked through help but to no avail.  The variable in question contains numerical data only but imports as text.

Many thanks

Chris

[Chris Hunt]

Perfect, thank you.

ALTER TYPE does exactly what I want.

I had tried RECODE and CONVERT but then I was having to delete the old variable and rename the new one which seemed long winded to me.

 

 

 

From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of J Sutar
Sent: 15 December 2010 12:45
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: Changing variable type

 

There are are a number of ways to do this. ALTER TYPE would work if running the latest version of SPSS.

 

Otherwise, you have RECODE option using the keyword CONVERT.

 

And also a COMPUTE command with NUMBER function such as

 

Compute NumbVar=NUMBER(strVar,F8.0).

 

HTH,

Jignesh

On 15 December 2010 12:15, Chris Hunt <[hidden email]> wrote:

Hi all,

Can anybody tell me how to change a variable from string to numeric using code.  I have looked through help but to no avail.  The variable in question contains numerical data only but imports as text.

Many thanks

Chris

 

[Rick Oliver-3]

Alter Type was introduced in version 16.



From:        J Sutar <[hidden email]>
To:        [hidden email]
Date:        12/15/2010 06:56 AM
Subject:        Re: Changing variable type
Sent by:        "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <[hidden email]>

---

There are are a number of ways to do this. ALTER TYPE would work if running the latest version of SPSS.
 
Otherwise, you have RECODE option using the keyword CONVERT.
 
And also a COMPUTE command with NUMBER function such as
 
Compute NumbVar=NUMBER(strVar,F8.0).
 
HTH,
Jignesh
On 15 December 2010 12:15, Chris Hunt <crh75@...> wrote:
Hi all,

Can anybody tell me how to change a variable from string to numeric using code.  I have looked through help but to no avail.  The variable in question contains numerical data only but imports as text.

Many thanks

Chris

[Rick Oliver-3]

And ALTER TYPE leaves the variable in the same location in the file, if that makes any difference for what you want to do.



From:        Chris Hunt <[hidden email]>
To:        [hidden email]
Date:        12/15/2010 07:36 AM
Subject:        Re: Changing variable type
Sent by:        "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <[hidden email]>

---

Perfect, thank you.
ALTER TYPE does exactly what I want.
I had tried RECODE and CONVERT but then I was having to delete the old variable and rename the new one which seemed long winded to me.
 
 
 
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [[hidden email]] On Behalf Of J Sutar
Sent: 15 December 2010 12:45
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: Changing variable type
 
There are are a number of ways to do this. ALTER TYPE would work if running the latest version of SPSS.
 
Otherwise, you have RECODE option using the keyword CONVERT.
 
And also a COMPUTE command with NUMBER function such as
 
Compute NumbVar=NUMBER(strVar,F8.0).
 
HTH,
Jignesh
On 15 December 2010 12:15, Chris Hunt <crh75@...> wrote:
Hi all,
Can anybody tell me how to change a variable from string to numeric using code.  I have looked through help but to no avail.  The variable in question contains numerical data only but imports as text.
Many thanks
Chris