Create String Variable

[Ryan Mulligan-3]

Dear List:

 

Using a string variable called Question, I want to create a new variable
based on the first two characters of this variable. I am creating the
new variable by going to Transform and then compute. I have tried to
using the string function Substring but get the following error "Invalid
combination of data types in an assignment. Character strings may only
be assigned to string variables. Numeric and logical quantities may only
be assigned to numeric variables. Consider using the STRING or Number
function."

 

Basically, I want to know how use string variable A to create string
variable B. String variable B should be based on the first two
characters of string variable A.

 

If anyone can help me with this simple task, I would really appreciate
it!

 

Thank You,

 

Ryan Mulligan

 

 

 

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[Marks, Jim]

You need to declare the string variable before computing it:


STRING newvar (A2).
COMPUTE newvar = SUBSTR(oldvar,1,2).

SPSS assumes that the COMPUTED variable is numeric, unless previously
declared/ defined

--jim



-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
Ryan Mulligan
Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 11:39 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Create String Variable

Dear List:



Using a string variable called Question, I want to create a new variable
based on the first two characters of this variable. I am creating the
new variable by going to Transform and then compute. I have tried to
using the string function Substring but get the following error "Invalid
combination of data types in an assignment. Character strings may only
be assigned to string variables. Numeric and logical quantities may only
be assigned to numeric variables. Consider using the STRING or Number
function."



Basically, I want to know how use string variable A to create string
variable B. String variable B should be based on the first two
characters of string variable A.



If anyone can help me with this simple task, I would really appreciate
it!



Thank You,



Ryan Mulligan







=======
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

=====================
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For a list of commands to manage subscriptions, send the command
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[Lombardo, Barbara]

Ryan,

Your substring function will work if you have A and B both set to string
types.  Your error message says one of your variables is a number.





Barbara Lombardo

Camden County College
Institutional Research
856-374-4961


-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
Ryan Mulligan
Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 12:39 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Create String Variable

Dear List:



Using a string variable called Question, I want to create a new variable
based on the first two characters of this variable. I am creating the
new variable by going to Transform and then compute. I have tried to
using the string function Substring but get the following error "Invalid
combination of data types in an assignment. Character strings may only
be assigned to string variables. Numeric and logical quantities may only
be assigned to numeric variables. Consider using the STRING or Number
function."



Basically, I want to know how use string variable A to create string
variable B. String variable B should be based on the first two
characters of string variable A.



If anyone can help me with this simple task, I would really appreciate
it!



Thank You,



Ryan Mulligan







=======
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

=====================
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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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[Ornelas, Fermin-2]

COMPUTE #BENYR=TRUNC(BENMO/100)
COMPUTE #BENMN=MOD(BENMO,10)
COMPUTE  BDATE=DATE.MDY(#BENMN,1,#BENYR)
COMPUTE #YR= TRUNC(ISSDATE/1E4)
COMPUTE #MO= TRUNC(MOD(ISSDATE,1E4)/1E2)
COMPUTE #DA= MOD(ISSDATE,1E2)
COMPUTE IDATE=86400*YRMODA(#YR,#MO,#DA)
FORMAT IDATE(ADATE)
       BDATE(ADATE)

Here is a trick that was given to me by the list when one has a variable
that is numeric. The substring command as Barbara said requires the
variable to be alpha numeric. You could also convert it first to string.

Here is another example
 STRING SITE2   (A4)
COMPUTE SITE2=STRING(SITE,F4.0)

This is a numerical variable that has been changed to numeric. On site2
I can use the substr command

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
Lombardo, Barbara
Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 10:28 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: Create String Variable

Ryan,

Your substring function will work if you have A and B both set to string
types.  Your error message says one of your variables is a number.





Barbara Lombardo

Camden County College
Institutional Research
856-374-4961


-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
Ryan Mulligan
Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 12:39 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Create String Variable

Dear List:



Using a string variable called Question, I want to create a new variable
based on the first two characters of this variable. I am creating the
new variable by going to Transform and then compute. I have tried to
using the string function Substring but get the following error "Invalid
combination of data types in an assignment. Character strings may only
be assigned to string variables. Numeric and logical quantities may only
be assigned to numeric variables. Consider using the STRING or Number
function."



Basically, I want to know how use string variable A to create string
variable B. String variable B should be based on the first two
characters of string variable A.



If anyone can help me with this simple task, I would really appreciate
it!



Thank You,



Ryan Mulligan







=======
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

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