SPSSX Discussion

Combining Two Datafiles

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Ucal Gyam

Combining Two Datafiles

Dear List,
I have 2 datafiles FileA and FileB with same variables,
I want to Create a third datafile FileC containing only records from both
FileA and FileB Where the values of the variables x1 , x2 and x3
(ie same matching records on x1,x2 and x3) in both datafiles
are equal .
Can somebody point me the right direction.
Thanks
Ucal

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Hector Maletta

Re: Combining Two Datafiles

One possibility:
Rename the variables in one of the files to, say, Z1, Z2 and Z3.
Match the files (with all cases included). Then select the cases where X1=Z1
AND X2=Z2 AND X3=Z3.
Hector

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
Ucal Gyam
Sent: 11 July 2007 14:59
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Combining Two Datafiles

Dear List,
I have 2 datafiles FileA and FileB with same variables,
I want to Create a third datafile FileC containing only records
from both
FileA and FileB Where the values of the variables x1 , x2 and x3
(ie same matching records on x1,x2 and x3) in both datafiles
are equal .
Can somebody point me the right direction.
Thanks
Ucal

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________
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Ucal Gyam

Re: Combining Two Datafiles

In reply to this post by Ucal Gyam

Hector, thanks for your response.
Should I first rename the variables in the second file , add the files then
match the files ? , more details on how to do this will be much appreciated.
Thanks.

----- Original Message ----
From: Hector Maletta <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2007 2:14:07 PM
Subject: Re: Combining Two Datafiles

One possibility:
Rename the variables in one of the files to, say, Z1, Z2 and Z3.
Match the files (with all cases included). Then select the cases where X1=Z1
AND X2=Z2 AND X3=Z3.
Hector

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
Ucal Gyam
Sent: 11 July 2007 14:59
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Combining Two Datafiles

Dear List,
I have 2 datafiles FileA and FileB with same variables,
I want to Create a third datafile FileC containing only records
from both
FileA and FileB Where the values of the variables x1 , x2 and x3
(ie same matching records on x1,x2 and x3) in both datafiles
are equal .
Can somebody point me the right direction.
Thanks
Ucal

____________________________________________________________________________
________
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Hector Maletta

Re: Combining Two Datafiles

It does not matter which file's variables you rename insofar they have
different names. Example of syntax:

Both files must be sorted by the matching variables (e.g. the ID variable in
the following example).

GET FILE 'FILE1.SAV'.

RENAME VARIABLES (X1 X2 X3 = Z1 Z2 Z3).

SORT CASES BY ID.

SAVE OUTFILE 'FILE1.SAV'.

GET FILE 'FILE2.SAV'.

SORT CASES BY ID.

MATCH FILES /FILE */FILE 'FILE1.SAV'/BY ID.

SELECT IF (X1=Z1 AND X2=Z2 AND X3=Z3).

SAVE OUTFILE 'SELECTEDCASES.SAV'.

Hector

_____

From: Ucal Gyam [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: 11 July 2007 16:05
To: Hector Maletta; [hidden email]
Subject: Re: Combining Two Datafiles

Hector, thanks for your response.
Should I first rename the variables in the second file , add the files then
match the files ? , more details on how to do this will be much appreciated.

Thanks.

----- Original Message ----
From: Hector Maletta <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2007 2:14:07 PM
Subject: Re: Combining Two Datafiles

One possibility:
Rename the variables in one of the files to, say, Z1, Z2 and Z3.
Match the files (with all cases included). Then select the cases where X1=Z1
AND X2=Z2 AND X3=Z3.
Hector

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
Ucal Gyam
Sent: 11 July 2007 14:59
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Combining Two Datafiles

Dear List,
I have 2 datafiles FileA and FileB with same variables,
I want to Create a third datafile FileC containing only records
from both
FileA and FileB Where the values of the variables x1 , x2 and x3
(ie same matching records on x1,x2 and x3) in both datafiles
are equal .
Can somebody point me the right direction.
Thanks
Ucal

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http://answers.yahoo.com/dir/?link=list
<http://answers.yahoo.com/dir/?link=list&sid=396546091> &sid=396546091

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Richard Ristow

Re: Combining Two Datafiles

In reply to this post by Ucal Gyam

At 01:59 PM 7/11/2007, Ucal Gyam wrote:

>I have 2 datafiles FileA and FileB with same variables, I want to
>Create a third datafile FileC containing only records from both FileA
>and FileB Where the values of the variables x1 , x2 and x3 (ie same
>matching records on x1,x2 and x3) in both datafiles are equal .

If I read you correctly: if records match (on those three variables) in
both files, you want to keep both records in your output file, not
merge them into one. (The latter won't give the desired results anyway,
if there both files have the same variables.)

The following is not tested. It assumes that FileA, FileB, FileC are
valid file references, perhaps file handles. It uses datasets (SPSS 14
and beyond). If you have an earlier SPSS, you can make srtFileB a
scratch .SAV file, changing the dataset-handling logic to file-handling
logic.

This logic leaves variables FrmFileA, FrmFileB, InFileA and InFileB in
the output file. I think you should keep the first two of these. If you
don't want the others, add
/DROP InFileA InFileB
to your SAVE statement.

GET FILE=FileB.
SORT CASES BY x1 x2 x3.
DATASET NAME srtFileB.

GET FILE=FileA.
SORT CASES BY x1 x2 x3.

ADD FILES
/FILE=* /IN=FrmFileA
/FILE=srtFileB /IN=FrmFileB
/BY x1 x2 x3.

AGGREGATE OUTFILE=* MODE=ADDVARIABLES
/BREAK = x1 x2 x3
/InFileA 'x1-x2-x3 key found in FileA' = MAX(FrmFileA)
/InFileB 'x1-x2-x3 key found in FileB' = MAX(FrmFileB).

SELECT IF FrmFileA EQ 1
AND FrmFileB EQ 1.

SAVE OUTFILE=FileC.

Ucal Gyam

Re: Combining Two Datafiles

In reply to this post by Ucal Gyam

Thanks for your response Richard .
You are right , if records match (on those three variables) in both files, I want to keep both (all) records in my output file, not merge them into one.

Which part of syntax wont give me desired results if there both files have the same variables?

----- Original Message ----
From: Richard Ristow <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2007 11:55:02 PM
Subject: Re: Combining Two Datafiles

At 01:59 PM 7/11/2007, Ucal Gyam wrote:

>I have 2 datafiles FileA and FileB with same variables, I want to
>Create a third datafile FileC containing only records from both FileA
>and FileB Where the values of the variables x1 , x2 and x3 (ie same
>matching records on x1,x2 and x3) in both datafiles are equal .

If I read you correctly: if records match (on those three variables) in
both files, you want to keep both records in your output file, not
merge them into one. (The latter won't give the desired results anyway,
if there both files have the same variables.)

The following is not tested. It assumes that FileA, FileB, FileC are
valid file references, perhaps file handles. It uses datasets (SPSS 14
and beyond). If you have an earlier SPSS, you can make srtFileB a
scratch .SAV file, changing the dataset-handling logic to file-handling
logic.

This logic leaves variables FrmFileA, FrmFileB, InFileA and InFileB in
the output file. I think you should keep the first two of these. If you
don't want the others, add
/DROP InFileA InFileB
to your SAVE statement.

GET FILE=FileB.
SORT CASES BY x1 x2 x3.
DATASET NAME srtFileB.

GET FILE=FileA.
SORT CASES BY x1 x2 x3.

ADD FILES
/FILE=* /IN=FrmFileA
/FILE=srtFileB /IN=FrmFileB
/BY x1 x2 x3.

AGGREGATE OUTFILE=* MODE=ADDVARIABLES
/BREAK = x1 x2 x3
/InFileA 'x1-x2-x3 key found in FileA' = MAX(FrmFileA)
/InFileB 'x1-x2-x3 key found in FileB' = MAX(FrmFileB).

SELECT IF FrmFileA EQ 1
AND FrmFileB EQ 1.

SAVE OUTFILE=FileC.

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Ucal Gyam

Re: Combining Two Datafiles

In reply to this post by Ucal Gyam

Thanks Richard and Hector , I was able to adapt your syntax to solve my proble.

----- Original Message ----
From: Richard Ristow <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2007 11:55:02 PM
Subject: Re: Combining Two Datafiles

At 01:59 PM 7/11/2007, Ucal Gyam wrote:

>I have 2 datafiles FileA and FileB with same variables, I want to
>Create a third datafile FileC containing only records from both FileA
>and FileB Where the values of the variables x1 , x2 and x3 (ie same
>matching records on x1,x2 and x3) in both datafiles are equal .

If I read you correctly: if records match (on those three variables) in
both files, you want to keep both records in your output file, not
merge them into one. (The latter won't give the desired results anyway,
if there both files have the same variables.)

The following is not tested. It assumes that FileA, FileB, FileC are
valid file references, perhaps file handles. It uses datasets (SPSS 14
and beyond). If you have an earlier SPSS, you can make srtFileB a
scratch .SAV file, changing the dataset-handling logic to file-handling
logic.

This logic leaves variables FrmFileA, FrmFileB, InFileA and InFileB in
the output file. I think you should keep the first two of these. If you
don't want the others, add
/DROP InFileA InFileB
to your SAVE statement.

GET FILE=FileB.
SORT CASES BY x1 x2 x3.
DATASET NAME srtFileB.

GET FILE=FileA.
SORT CASES BY x1 x2 x3.

ADD FILES
/FILE=* /IN=FrmFileA
/FILE=srtFileB /IN=FrmFileB
/BY x1 x2 x3.

AGGREGATE OUTFILE=* MODE=ADDVARIABLES
/BREAK = x1 x2 x3
/InFileA 'x1-x2-x3 key found in FileA' = MAX(FrmFileA)
/InFileB 'x1-x2-x3 key found in FileB' = MAX(FrmFileB).

SELECT IF FrmFileA EQ 1
AND FrmFileB EQ 1.

SAVE OUTFILE=FileC.

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