DELETE VARIABLES: What version did it make its appearance?

[David Marso]

Hello ,
I wonder if anyone knows which version first supported DELETE VARIABLES.
Unlike most commands listed in the FM, DELETE VARIABLES does not list a first version ;-(
David

[jkpeck]

As it says in the CSR, the  history covers changes post SPSS 12, so you can assume that DELETE VARIABLES has been there for a very long time.  I can't test that assertion that far back, however.

[David Marso]

Thanks Jon,
I know it doesn't reside in 11.5, so I was checking.
BTW:  It would be nice to have a sister operator:
KEEP VARIABLES.

jkpeck wrote

As it says in the CSR, the  history covers changes post SPSS 12, so you can assume that DELETE VARIABLES has been there for a very long time.  I can't test that assertion that far back, however.

[Cheryl Boglarsky]

I will be out of the office until Friday, May 10, 2013, with limited access to email. However, please know that your message is very important to me and I will respond when I return. Thank you.

If this is an emergency, please call our office at 734.459.1030.

 

 

 

Thank you.

 

Sincerely,

Cheryl

_____________________________________________________

Cheryl A. Boglarsky, Ph.D.

Human Synergistics, Inc.

39819 Plymouth Road

Plymouth, MI 48170

734.459.1030

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This message includes legally privileged and confidential information that is intended only for the use of the recipient named above. All readers of this message, other than the intended recipient, are hereby notified that any dissemination, modification, distribution or reproduction of this e-mail is strictly forbidden.

[kwame woei]

I second that. I find it extremely annoying that a function like KEEP VARIABLES does not exists.


Op 7 mei 2013 om 23:41 heeft "David Marso" <[hidden email]> het volgende geschreven:

> Thanks Jon,
> I know it doesn't reside in 11.5, so I was checking.
> BTW:  It would be nice to have a sister operator:
> KEEP VARIABLES.
>
>
> jkpeck wrote
>> As it says in the CSR, the  history covers changes post SPSS 12, so you
>> can assume that DELETE VARIABLES has been there for a very long time.  I
>> can't test that assertion that far back, however.
>
>
>
>
>
> -----
> Please reply to the list and not to my personal email.
> Those desiring my consulting or training services please feel free to email me.
> ---
> "Nolite dare sanctum canibus neque mittatis margaritas vestras ante porcos ne forte conculcent eas pedibus suis."
> Cum es damnatorum possederunt porcos iens ut salire off sanguinum cliff in abyssum?"
> --
> View this message in context: http://spssx-discussion.1045642.n5.nabble.com/DELETE-VARIABLES-What-version-did-it-make-its-appearance-tp5720045p5720047.html
> Sent from the SPSSX Discussion mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>
> =====================
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[David Marso]

FWIW:
MATCH FILES / FILE * / KEEP varlist
will suffice .
I was thinking more in terms of symmetry in the language.

My usage is something like

Define a macro which has an optional statistics list .
All the stats get computed but typically only a few are of interest to the user.
My MATRIX program saves identifiers and ALL of the stats and then does a

MATCH FILES / FILE * / KEEP ids !stats .

This prunes the data set to the ids and requested STATS .

That is NOT readily achieved using DELETE VARIABLES.

Alternatively I could just save the subset of STATS but that is fairly painful to code within MATRIX.

kwame woei wrote

I second that. I find it extremely annoying that a function like KEEP VARIABLES does not exists.


Op 7 mei 2013 om 23:41 heeft "David Marso" <[hidden email]> het volgende geschreven:

> Thanks Jon,
> I know it doesn't reside in 11.5, so I was checking.
> BTW:  It would be nice to have a sister operator:
> KEEP VARIABLES.
>
>
> jkpeck wrote
>> As it says in the CSR, the  history covers changes post SPSS 12, so you
>> can assume that DELETE VARIABLES has been there for a very long time.  I
>> can't test that assertion that far back, however.
>
>
>
>
>
> -----
> Please reply to the list and not to my personal email.
> Those desiring my consulting or training services please feel free to email me.
> ---
> "Nolite dare sanctum canibus neque mittatis margaritas vestras ante porcos ne forte conculcent eas pedibus suis."
> Cum es damnatorum possederunt porcos iens ut salire off sanguinum cliff in abyssum?"
> --
> View this message in context: http://spssx-discussion.1045642.n5.nabble.com/DELETE-VARIABLES-What-version-did-it-make-its-appearance-tp5720045p5720047.html
> Sent from the SPSSX Discussion mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>
> =====================
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[Mike]

It appears in version 12.00.  I have an old set of v12 files on my machine
and it shows up in in the "Master Help" file.

-Mike Palij
New York University
[hidden email]

----- Original Message -----
From: "David Marso" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 07, 2013 5:40 PM
Subject: Re: DELETE VARIABLES: What version did it make its appearance?

> Thanks Jon,
> I know it doesn't reside in 11.5, so I was checking.
> BTW:  It would be nice to have a sister operator:
> KEEP VARIABLES.
>
>
> jkpeck wrote
>> As it says in the CSR, the  history covers changes post SPSS 12, so you
>> can assume that DELETE VARIABLES has been there for a very long time.  I
>> can't test that assertion that far back, however.
>
>
>
>
>
> -----
> Please reply to the list and not to my personal email.
> Those desiring my consulting or training services please feel free to
> email me.
> ---
> "Nolite dare sanctum canibus neque mittatis margaritas vestras ante porcos
> ne forte conculcent eas pedibus suis."
> Cum es damnatorum possederunt porcos iens ut salire off sanguinum cliff in
> abyssum?"
> --
> View this message in context:
> http://spssx-discussion.1045642.n5.nabble.com/DELETE-VARIABLES-What-version-did-it-make-its-appearance-tp5720045p5720047.html
> Sent from the SPSSX Discussion mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>
> =====================
> To manage your subscription to SPSSX-L, send a message to
> [hidden email] (not to SPSSX-L), with no body text except the
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[Jon K Peck]

What's wrong with
MATCH FILES /FILE=* /keep varlist.


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




From:        kwame woei <[hidden email]>
To:        [hidden email],
Date:        05/07/2013 04:05 PM
Subject:        Re: [SPSSX-L] DELETE VARIABLES:  What version did it make its              appearance?
Sent by:        "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <[hidden email]>

---

I second that. I find it extremely annoying that a function like KEEP VARIABLES does not exists.


Op 7 mei 2013 om 23:41 heeft "David Marso" <[hidden email]> het volgende geschreven:

> Thanks Jon,
> I know it doesn't reside in 11.5, so I was checking.
> BTW:  It would be nice to have a sister operator:
> KEEP VARIABLES.
>
>
> jkpeck wrote
>> As it says in the CSR, the  history covers changes post SPSS 12, so you
>> can assume that DELETE VARIABLES has been there for a very long time.  I
>> can't test that assertion that far back, however.
>
>
>
>
>
> -----
> Please reply to the list and not to my personal email.
> Those desiring my consulting or training services please feel free to email me.
> ---
> "Nolite dare sanctum canibus neque mittatis margaritas vestras ante porcos ne forte conculcent eas pedibus suis."
> Cum es damnatorum possederunt porcos iens ut salire off sanguinum cliff in abyssum?"
> --
> View this message in context: http://spssx-discussion.1045642.n5.nabble.com/DELETE-VARIABLES-What-version-did-it-make-its-appearance-tp5720045p5720047.html
> Sent from the SPSSX Discussion mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>
> =====================
> 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
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[Jon K Peck]

It would take about ten minutes to create a STATS KEEP VARIABLES extension command with Python :-)


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




From:        David Marso <[hidden email]>
To:        [hidden email],
Date:        05/07/2013 04:36 PM
Subject:        Re: [SPSSX-L] DELETE VARIABLES:  What version did it make its              appearance?
Sent by:        "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <[hidden email]>

---

FWIW:
MATCH FILES / FILE * / KEEP varlist
will suffice .
I was thinking more in terms of symmetry in the language.

My usage is something like

Define a macro which has an optional statistics list .
All the stats get computed but typically only a few are of interest to the
user.
My MATRIX program saves identifiers and ALL of the stats and then does a

MATCH FILES / FILE * / KEEP ids !stats .

This prunes the data set to the ids and requested STATS .

That is NOT readily achieved using DELETE VARIABLES.

Alternatively I could just save the subset of STATS but that is fairly
painful to code within MATRIX.



kwame woei wrote
> I second that. I find it extremely annoying that a function like KEEP
> VARIABLES does not exists.
>
>
> Op 7 mei 2013 om 23:41 heeft "David Marso" &lt;

> david.marso@

> &gt; het volgende geschreven:
>
>> Thanks Jon,
>> I know it doesn't reside in 11.5, so I was checking.
>> BTW:  It would be nice to have a sister operator:
>> KEEP VARIABLES.
>>
>>
>> jkpeck wrote
>>> As it says in the CSR, the  history covers changes post SPSS 12, so you
>>> can assume that DELETE VARIABLES has been there for a very long time.  I
>>> can't test that assertion that far back, however.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -----
>> Please reply to the list and not to my personal email.
>> Those desiring my consulting or training services please feel free to
>> email me.
>> ---
>> "Nolite dare sanctum canibus neque mittatis margaritas vestras ante
>> porcos ne forte conculcent eas pedibus suis."
>> Cum es damnatorum possederunt porcos iens ut salire off sanguinum cliff
>> in abyssum?"
>> --
>> View this message in context:
>> http://spssx-discussion.1045642.n5.nabble.com/DELETE-VARIABLES-What-version-did-it-make-its-appearance-tp5720045p5720047.html
>> Sent from the SPSSX Discussion mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>>
>> =====================
>> To manage your subscription to SPSSX-L, send a message to
>>

> LISTSERV@.UGA

>  (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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>  (not to SPSSX-L), with no body text except the
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-----
Please reply to the list and not to my personal email.
Those desiring my consulting or training services please feel free to email me.
---
"Nolite dare sanctum canibus neque mittatis margaritas vestras ante porcos ne forte conculcent eas pedibus suis."
Cum es damnatorum possederunt porcos iens ut salire off sanguinum cliff in abyssum?"
--
View this message in context: http://spssx-discussion.1045642.n5.nabble.com/DELETE-VARIABLES-What-version-did-it-make-its-appearance-tp5720045p5720050.html
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[Bruce Weaver]

Ten minutes?  Extension commands must be harder to write than macros.  :-)

This is untested, so I hope it works after that crack about extension commands.  ;-)

DEFINE KeepVars (Vars = !CMDEND)
MATCH FILES / FILE = * / KEEP !Vars .
EXECUTE.
!ENDDEFINE.

KeepVars Vars = tom dick harry uncle_tom_cobley.

Jon K Peck wrote

It would take about ten minutes to create a STATS KEEP VARIABLES extension
command with Python :-)


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




From:   David Marso <[hidden email]>
To:     [hidden email],
Date:   05/07/2013 04:36 PM
Subject:        Re: [SPSSX-L] DELETE VARIABLES:  What version did it make
its              appearance?
Sent by:        "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <[hidden email]>



FWIW:
MATCH FILES / FILE * / KEEP varlist
will suffice .
I was thinking more in terms of symmetry in the language.

My usage is something like

Define a macro which has an optional statistics list .
All the stats get computed but typically only a few are of interest to the
user.
My MATRIX program saves identifiers and ALL of the stats and then does a

MATCH FILES / FILE * / KEEP ids !stats .

This prunes the data set to the ids and requested STATS .

That is NOT readily achieved using DELETE VARIABLES.

Alternatively I could just save the subset of STATS but that is fairly
painful to code within MATRIX.



kwame woei wrote
> I second that. I find it extremely annoying that a function like KEEP
> VARIABLES does not exists.
>
>
> Op 7 mei 2013 om 23:41 heeft "David Marso" <

> david.marso@

> > het volgende geschreven:
>
>> Thanks Jon,
>> I know it doesn't reside in 11.5, so I was checking.
>> BTW:  It would be nice to have a sister operator:
>> KEEP VARIABLES.
>>
>>
>> jkpeck wrote
>>> As it says in the CSR, the  history covers changes post SPSS 12, so
you
>>> can assume that DELETE VARIABLES has been there for a very long time.
I
>>> can't test that assertion that far back, however.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -----
>> Please reply to the list and not to my personal email.
>> Those desiring my consulting or training services please feel free to
>> email me.
>> ---
>> "Nolite dare sanctum canibus neque mittatis margaritas vestras ante
>> porcos ne forte conculcent eas pedibus suis."
>> Cum es damnatorum possederunt porcos iens ut salire off sanguinum cliff
>> in abyssum?"
>> --
>> View this message in context:
>>
http://spssx-discussion.1045642.n5.nabble.com/DELETE-VARIABLES-What-version-did-it-make-its-appearance-tp5720045p5720047.html

>> Sent from the SPSSX Discussion mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>>
>> =====================
>> To manage your subscription to SPSSX-L, send a message to
>>

> LISTSERV@.UGA

>  (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
>
> =====================
> To manage your subscription to SPSSX-L, send a message to

> LISTSERV@.UGA

>  (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





-----
Please reply to the list and not to my personal email.
Those desiring my consulting or training services please feel free to
email me.
---
"Nolite dare sanctum canibus neque mittatis margaritas vestras ante porcos
ne forte conculcent eas pedibus suis."
Cum es damnatorum possederunt porcos iens ut salire off sanguinum cliff in
abyssum?"
--
View this message in context:
http://spssx-discussion.1045642.n5.nabble.com/DELETE-VARIABLES-What-version-did-it-make-its-appearance-tp5720045p5720050.html

Sent from the SPSSX Discussion mailing list archive at Nabble.com.

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[Art Kendall]

REARRANGE VARS  would have
MATCH FILES /FILE=* /keep varlist ALL.
under the hood.

On 5/7/2013 7:46 PM, Jon K Peck [via SPSSX Discussion] wrote:

What's wrong with
MATCH FILES /FILE=* /keep varlist.


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




From:        kwame woei <[hidden email]>
To:        [hidden email],
Date:        05/07/2013 04:05 PM
Subject:        Re: [SPSSX-L] DELETE VARIABLES:  What version did it make its              appearance?
Sent by:        "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <[hidden email]>

---

I second that. I find it extremely annoying that a function like KEEP VARIABLES does not exists.


Op 7 mei 2013 om 23:41 heeft "David Marso" <[hidden email]> het volgende geschreven:

> Thanks Jon,
> I know it doesn't reside in 11.5, so I was checking.
> BTW:  It would be nice to have a sister operator:
> KEEP VARIABLES.
>
>
> jkpeck wrote
>> As it says in the CSR, the  history covers changes post SPSS 12, so you
>> can assume that DELETE VARIABLES has been there for a very long time.  I
>> can't test that assertion that far back, however.
>
>
>
>
>
> -----
> Please reply to the list and not to my personal email.
> Those desiring my consulting or training services please feel free to email me.
> ---
> "Nolite dare sanctum canibus neque mittatis margaritas vestras ante porcos ne forte conculcent eas pedibus suis."
> Cum es damnatorum possederunt porcos iens ut salire off sanguinum cliff in abyssum?"
> --
> View this message in context: http://spssx-discussion.1045642.n5.nabble.com/DELETE-VARIABLES-What-version-did-it-make-its-appearance-tp5720045p5720047.html
> Sent from the SPSSX Discussion mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>
> =====================
> 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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NAML

[Andy W]

While we are on the subject, in what situation would you prefer DELETE VARIABLES over MATCH FILES and DROP anyway?

[Bruce Weaver]

From the FM entry for DELETE VARIABLES:

"This command takes effect immediately. It does not read the active dataset or execute pending transformations."

MATCH FILES with DROP, on the other hand, requires an EXECUTE (or its equivalent).

Andy W wrote

While we are on the subject, in what situation would you prefer DELETE VARIABLES over MATCH FILES and DROP anyway?

[Cheryl Boglarsky]

I will be out of the office until Friday, May 10, 2013, with limited access to email. However, please know that your message is very important to me and I will respond when I return. Thank you.

If this is an emergency, please call our office at 734.459.1030.

 

 

 

Thank you.

 

Sincerely,

Cheryl

_____________________________________________________

Cheryl A. Boglarsky, Ph.D.

Human Synergistics, Inc.

39819 Plymouth Road

Plymouth, MI 48170

734.459.1030

[hidden email] 

 

 

This message includes legally privileged and confidential information that is intended only for the use of the recipient named above. All readers of this message, other than the intended recipient, are hereby notified that any dissemination, modification, distribution or reproduction of this e-mail is strictly forbidden.

[Art Kendall]

(1)It take place immediately.  (2) it is very readable.

Oops reverse that order.
On 5/8/2013 10:05 AM, Andy W [via SPSSX Discussion] wrote:

While we are on the subject, in what situation would you prefer DELETE VARIABLES over MATCH FILES and DROP anyway?

---

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NAML

[Andy W]

Ok, let me be more specific about my questions then;

1) I totally don't get how it takes effect immediately yet does not read the active dataset nor execute pending transformations. How does it delete the variables if it doesn't do anything to the active dataset (i.e. force a data-pass and/or run pending transformations)! [or more specifically, if it doesn't read and/or rewrite the active dataset how does it do anything to the active dataset]

2) Are there any practical, data management situations in which you would prefer DELETE vs. MATCH (I agree delete is more intuitive - any others?). [I was kind of more interested in this]

I typically don't use it now because I almost invariably get an error message with my V15 saying something along the lines of "Variables can not be deleted while transformations are pending." So although it doesn't execute pending transformations it seems a necessary step I need to take anyway.

So although, you say MATCH FILES and DROP requires an execute, I don't typically need to run the pending transformations for dropping variables at all for my workflows (until basically the end product) [and if I did, both require I put in an "exe." in there somewhere]. I was just wondering if there were any obvious counter examples where DELETE would be preferable to MATCH.

**********************************************.
*this produces said error message on my V15.
data list free / V1 V2.
begin data
1 6
2 7
3 8
4 9
5 9
end data.
dataset name del.

compute V3 = V1 + V2.
delete variables V1.
**********************************************.

[Jon K Peck]

From the CSR about DELETE VARIABLES.

This command cannot be executed when there are pending transformations. For example, DELETE
VARIABLES cannot be immediately preceded by transformation commands such as COMPUTE or RECODE.

DELETE VARIABLES is really just syntactic sugar on  the MATCH FILES solution.

Removing variables from the variable dictionary makes them invisible, but actions such as SAVE or running a procedure would be required to actually modify the dataset.  Since that would happen piggybacked on the next required data pass anyway, there is  no visible overhead to deleting variables.
Jon Peck (no "h") aka Kim
Senior Software Engineer, IBM
[hidden email]
phone: [phone]




From:        Andy W <[hidden email]>
To:        [hidden email],
Date:        05/08/2013 09:54 AM
Subject:        Re: [SPSSX-L] DELETE VARIABLES:  What version did it make its              appearance?
Sent by:        "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <[hidden email]>

---

Ok, let me be more specific about my questions then;

1) I totally don't get how it takes effect immediately yet does not read the
active dataset nor execute pending transformations. How does it delete the
variables if it doesn't do anything to the active dataset (i.e. force a
data-pass and/or run pending transformations)! [or more specifically, if it
doesn't read and/or rewrite the active dataset how does it do anything to
the active dataset]

2) Are there any practical, data management situations in which you would
prefer DELETE vs. MATCH (I agree delete is more intuitive - any others?). [I
was kind of more interested in this]

I typically don't use it now because I almost invariably get an error
message with my V15 saying something along the lines of "Variables can not
be deleted while transformations are pending." So although it doesn't
execute pending transformations it seems a necessary step I need to take
anyway.

So although, you say MATCH FILES and DROP requires an execute, I don't
typically need to run the pending transformations for dropping variables at
all for my workflows (until basically the end product) [and if I did, both
require I put in an "exe." in there somewhere]. I was just wondering if
there were any obvious counter examples where DELETE would be preferable to
MATCH.

**********************************************.
*this produces said error message on my V15.
data list free / V1 V2.
begin data
1 6
2 7
3 8
4 9
5 9
end data.
dataset name del.

compute V3 = V1 + V2.
delete variables V1.
**********************************************.




-----
Andy W
[hidden email]
http://andrewpwheeler.wordpress.com/
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[Melissa Ives]

I have saved the descriptions of changes from version 7 to Version 21 and I am not finding DELETE VARIABLES in it anywhere.
I thought it was added in the version 15-17 range....

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of jkpeck
Sent: Tuesday, May 07, 2013 4:15 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [SPSSX-L] DELETE VARIABLES: What version did it make its appearance?

As it says in the CSR, the  history covers changes post SPSS 12, so you can assume that DELETE VARIABLES has been there for a very long time.  I can't test that assertion that far back, however.



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PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
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[Mike]



This is the manual page from SPSS ver15 for delete variables:

 

DELETE VARIABLES

DELETE VARIABLES varlist.

This command takes effect immediately. It does not read the active dataset or execute pending

transformations. For more information, see Command Order on p. 24.

Example

Delete VARIABLES varX varY thisVar TO thatVar.

Overview

DELETE VARIABLES deletes the specified variables from the active dataset.

Basic Specification

􀂄 The basic specification is one or more variable names.

Syntax Rules

􀂄 The variables must exist in the active dataset.

􀂄 The keyword TO can be used to specify consecutive variable in the active dataset.

􀂄 This command cannot be executed when there are pending transformations. For example,

DELETE VARIABLES cannot be immediately preceded by transformation commands such

as COMPUTE or RECODE.

􀂄 DELETE VARIABLES cannot be used with TEMPORARY.

􀂄 You cannot use this command to delete all variables in the active dataset. If the variable list

includes all variables in the active dataset, an error results and the command is not executed.

Use NEW FILE to delete all variables.

 

As stated above, you cannot use DELETE VARIABLES if transformation are

pending.  DEL VARs is not unique, check the universals section of your syntax

manual and you'll see a bunch of other commands like this (e.g., add value labels,

formats, numeric, string, etc. -- see p25 in v15 manual).

 

-Mike Palij

New York University

[hidden email]

 

----- Original Message -----

From: "Andy W" <[hidden email]>

To: <[hidden email]>

Sent: Wednesday, May 08, 2013 11:51 AM

Subject: Re: DELETE VARIABLES: What version did it make its appearance?

> Ok, let me be more specific about my questions then;

>
> 1) I totally don't get how it takes effect immediately yet does not read the
> active dataset nor execute pending transformations. How does it delete the
> variables if it doesn't do anything to the active dataset (i.e. force a
> data-pass and/or run pending transformations)! [or more specifically, if it
> doesn't read and/or rewrite the active dataset how does it do anything to
> the active dataset]
>
> 2) Are there any practical, data management situations in which you would
> prefer DELETE vs. MATCH (I agree delete is more intuitive - any others?). [I
> was kind of more interested in this]
>
> I typically don't use it now because I almost invariably get an error
> message with my V15 saying something along the lines of "Variables can not
> be deleted while transformations are pending." So although it doesn't
> execute pending transformations it seems a necessary step I need to take
> anyway.
>
> So although, you say MATCH FILES and DROP requires an execute, I don't
> typically need to run the pending transformations for dropping variables at
> all for my workflows (until basically the end product) [and if I did, both
> require I put in an "exe." in there somewhere]. I was just wondering if
> there were any obvious counter examples where DELETE would be preferable to
> MATCH.
>
> **********************************************.
> *this produces said error message on my V15.
> data list free / V1 V2.
> begin data
> 1 6
> 2 7
> 3 8
> 4 9
> 5 9
> end data.
> dataset name del.
>
> compute V3 = V1 + V2.
> delete variables V1.
> **********************************************.
>
>
>
>
> -----
> Andy W
> [hidden email]
> http://andrewpwheeler.wordpress.com/
> --
> View this message in context: http://spssx-discussion.1045642.n5.nabble.com/DELETE-VARIABLES-What-version-did-it-make-its-appearance-tp5720045p5720091.html
> Sent from the SPSSX Discussion mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>
> =====================
> 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

[Mike]

Okay, I have SPSS ver 12 installed on my machine but it is "unactivated"
because
the lease period has long expired (NYU likes us to upgrade to the current
version and not allow older versions to be available).
In the "Help" subdirectory, there is a "Main" subdirectory which can be
activated
and here is the info it provides for "What's New in Version 12" -- see "New
Data Management Features" section below.

-Mike Palij
New York University
[hidden email]

What's New in SPSS 12.0?
There are a number of new features in SPSS 12.0.

Improved Charting Features
  a.. Better default chart appearance
  b.. Support for long text strings and automatic text wrapping
  c.. Control of default scale ranges using chart templates
  d.. 3-D effects for pie and bar charts
  e.. Improved color and pattern choices, and much more
See What's New and Different for more information.

New Data Management Features
  a.. Longer variable names. The maximum length for variable names is now 64
bytes, compared to 8 bytes for previous releases. See Variable Names for
more information.
  b.. Visual Bander. The Visual Bander is designed to help you "band" scale
data into categorical ranges (for example, age in 10-year ranges). See
Visual Bander for more information.
  c.. Duplicate record finder. Identify, flag, report, and filter duplicate
records with the new Identify Duplicate Cases feature. See Identifying
Duplicate Cases for more information.
  d.. Output management system. Turn output into input with the new OMS
command. With OMS, you can automatically write selected categories of output
to different output files in different formats, including HTML, XML, text,
and SPSS-format data files. See Output Management System for more
information.
  e.. Command syntax to delete variables. The new DELETE VARIABLES command
makes it easy to delete variables you do not need anymore, such as temporary
variables used in transformations.
Statistical Enhancements
  a.. New options for handling weighted data in the Crosstabs procedure. See
Crosstabs Cell Display for more information.
  b.. New stepwise function in Multinomial Logistic Regression (NOMREG
command, Regression Models option). See Multinomial Logistic Regression
Models for more information.
New Complex Samples Option
This new add-on module provides the specialized planning tools and
statistics that you need when working with sample survey data. Most
conventional statistical software assumes your data arise from simple random
sampling. In most large-scale surveys, however, simple random sampling
generally is not feasible or cost effective. Using SPSS Complex Samples with
sample survey data reduces the risk of reaching incorrect or misleading
inferences. The new SPSS Complex Samples add-on module enables you to make
more statistically valid inferences for a population by incorporating the
sample design into survey analysis. It is an indispensable statistical tool
for survey and market researchers, public opinion researchers or social
scientists, and it enables you to reach more accurate conclusions when
working with sample survey methodology.

SPSS Statistical Procedures Companion, by Marija Norusis
This book will be published by Prentice Hall. It contains overviews of the
procedures in the SPSS Base system plus Logistic Regression, General Linear
Models, and Linear Mixed Models. Further information will be available on
www.spss.com (click Store, select your country, click Books).

Related Topics






----- Original Message -----
From: "Melissa Ives" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Wednesday, May 08, 2013 12:12 PM
Subject: Re: DELETE VARIABLES: What version did it make its appearance?

>I have saved the descriptions of changes from version 7 to Version 21 and I
>am not finding DELETE VARIABLES in it anywhere.
> I thought it was added in the version 15-17 range....
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
> jkpeck
> Sent: Tuesday, May 07, 2013 4:15 PM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: [SPSSX-L] DELETE VARIABLES: What version did it make its
> appearance?
>
> As it says in the CSR, the  history covers changes post SPSS 12, so you
> can assume that DELETE VARIABLES has been there for a very long time.  I
> can't test that assertion that far back, however.
>
>
>
> --
> View this message in context:
> http://spssx-discussion.1045642.n5.nabble.com/DELETE-VARIABLES-What-version-did-it-make-its-appearance-tp5720045p5720046.html
> Sent from the SPSSX Discussion mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>
> =====================
> 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
>
> PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
> This transmittal and any attachments may contain PRIVILEGED AND
> CONFIDENTIAL information and is intended only for the use of the
> addressee. If you are not the designated recipient, or an employee
> or agent authorized to deliver such transmittals to the designated
> recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination,
> copying or publication of this transmittal is strictly prohibited. If
> you have received this transmittal in error, please notify us
> immediately by replying to the sender and delete this copy from your
> system. You may also call us at [phone] for assistance.
>
> =====================
> 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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