GET DATA to multiple TXT files

[Kam T]

Dear SPSS users,
I have a very straight forward syntax for importing variables and data to
use on multiple txt files. After variable definition, and labeling I save
the out file with the same name as the input txt file.
Does anyone know how I can loop the GET DATA, VARIABLE LABELS, and SAVE
commands through a list of input text files?

Here is the syntax
GET DATA
/TYPE = TXT
/FILE = 'dir\fileX.txt'
/ARRANGEMENT = DELIMITED
/FIRSTCASE = 1
/DELCASE = LINE
/DELIMITERS = "\t"
/IMPORTCASE = ALL
/VARIABLES =
a F10.2
b F10.2
c F10.2 etc.

VARIABLE LABELS a 'labela' b 'labelb' etc.

SAVE OUTFILE =  'dir\FileX.sav'.

Thanks for your time
Kam

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[Rick Oliver-3]

Here's a Python solution:

begin program python.
import spss
filename=['file1', 'file2', 'file3']
for name in filename:
 spss.Submit("""
GET DATA
/TYPE = TXT
/FILE = 'dir\%(name)s.txt'
/ARRANGEMENT = DELIMITED
/FIRSTCASE = 1
/DELCASE = LINE
/DELIMITERS = "\t"
/IMPORTCASE = ALL
/VARIABLES =
a F10.2
b F10.2
c F10.2 etc.
VARIABLE LABELS a 'labela' b 'labelb' etc.
SAVE OUTFILE =  '%(name)s.sav'.
  """ %locals())
end program.

From:	Kam T <[hidden email]>
To:	[hidden email]
Date:	06/14/2010 04:11 PM
Subject:	GET DATA to multiple TXT files
Sent by:	"SPSSX(r) Discussion" <[hidden email]>

---

Dear SPSS users,
I have a very straight forward syntax for importing variables and data to
use on multiple txt files. After variable definition, and labeling I save
the out file with the same name as the input txt file.
Does anyone know how I can loop the GET DATA, VARIABLE LABELS, and SAVE
commands through a list of input text files?

Here is the syntax
GET DATA
/TYPE = TXT
/FILE = 'dir\fileX.txt'
/ARRANGEMENT = DELIMITED
/FIRSTCASE = 1
/DELCASE = LINE
/DELIMITERS = "\t"
/IMPORTCASE = ALL
/VARIABLES =
a F10.2
b F10.2
c F10.2 etc.

VARIABLE LABELS a 'labela' b 'labelb' etc.

SAVE OUTFILE =  'dir\FileX.sav'.

Thanks for your time
Kam

=====================
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[Kam T]

Thank you Rick. I know nothing about Python, and even less about SPSS together with Python. I am assuming this is a Python shell script I call at the command line. FYI I am running Python 2.5.1 on IDLE on a XP machine. I get the following error running the shell:
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "S:\tavabik\CHOP\NIH6\MEG\adata\SAM\SPSS\GETDATApy", line 40, in <module>
    """%locals())
ValueError: unsupported format character 't' (0x74) at index 88
Any idea what is going on here.?

On Mon, Jun 14, 2010 at 5:29 PM, Rick Oliver <[hidden email]> wrote:

Here's a Python solution:

begin program python.
import spss
filename=['file1', 'file2', 'file3']
for name in filename:
 spss.Submit("""
GET DATA
/TYPE = TXT
/FILE = 'dir\%(name)s.txt'
/ARRANGEMENT = DELIMITED
/FIRSTCASE = 1
/DELCASE = LINE
/DELIMITERS = "\t"
/IMPORTCASE = ALL
/VARIABLES =
a F10.2
b F10.2
c F10.2 etc.
VARIABLE LABELS a 'labela' b 'labelb' etc.
SAVE OUTFILE =  '%(name)s.sav'.
  """ %locals())
end program.

From:	Kam T <[hidden email]>
To:	[hidden email]
Date:	06/14/2010 04:11 PM
Subject:	GET DATA to multiple TXT files
Sent by:	"SPSSX(r) Discussion" <[hidden email]>

---

Dear SPSS users,
I have a very straight forward syntax for importing variables and data to
use on multiple txt files. After variable definition, and labeling I save
the out file with the same name as the input txt file.
Does anyone know how I can loop the GET DATA, VARIABLE LABELS, and SAVE
commands through a list of input text files?

Here is the syntax
GET DATA
/TYPE = TXT
/FILE = 'dir\fileX.txt'
/ARRANGEMENT = DELIMITED
/FIRSTCASE = 1
/DELCASE = LINE
/DELIMITERS = "\t"
/IMPORTCASE = ALL
/VARIABLES =
a F10.2
b F10.2
c F10.2 etc.

VARIABLE LABELS a 'labela' b 'labelb' etc.

SAVE OUTFILE =  'dir\FileX.sav'.

Thanks for your time
Kam

=====================
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--
-K.

[Bruce Weaver]

This should be easily doable with an old-fashioned SPSS macro--no Python required.  The following is untested, and may need some tweaking, but it will give you the general idea.

define !getfiles ( flist !cmdend )

!do !f !in !flist

GET DATA
 /TYPE = TXT
 /FILE = !quote(!concat("dir\",!f,".txt"))
 /ARRANGEMENT = DELIMITED
 /FIRSTCASE = 1
 /DELCASE = LINE
 /DELIMITERS = "\t"
 /IMPORTCASE = ALL
 /VARIABLES =
  a F10.2
  b F10.2
  c F10.2 etc.

VARIABLE LABELS a 'labela' b 'labelb' etc.
SAVE OUTFILE =  !quote(!concat("dir\",!f,".sav")) .
!doend

!enddefine .

* Call the macro .

!getfiles flist = "file1" "file2" "file3" .

K T-4 wrote

Thank you Rick. I know nothing about Python, and even less about SPSS
together with Python. I am assuming this is a Python shell script I call at
the command line. FYI I am running Python 2.5.1 on IDLE on a XP machine. I
get the following error running the shell:
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "S:\tavabik\CHOP\NIH6\MEG\adata\SAM\SPSS\GETDATApy", line 40, in
<module>
    """%locals())
ValueError: unsupported format character 't' (0x74) at index 88
Any idea what is going on here.?

On Mon, Jun 14, 2010 at 5:29 PM, Rick Oliver <[e-mail]> wrote:

>
> Here's a Python solution:
>
> begin program python.
> import spss
> filename=['file1', 'file2', 'file3']
> for name in filename:
>  spss.Submit("""
> GET DATA
> /TYPE = TXT
> /FILE = 'dir\%(name)s.txt'
> /ARRANGEMENT = DELIMITED
> /FIRSTCASE = 1
> /DELCASE = LINE
> /DELIMITERS = "\t"
> /IMPORTCASE = ALL
> /VARIABLES =
> a F10.2
> b F10.2
> c F10.2 etc.
> VARIABLE LABELS a 'labela' b 'labelb' etc.
> SAVE OUTFILE =  '%(name)s.sav'.
>   """ %locals())
> end program.
>
>
>  From: Kam T <[e-mail]> To: [e-mail] Date: 06/14/2010
> 04:11 PM Subject: GET DATA to multiple TXT files Sent by: "SPSSX(r)
> Discussion" <[e-mail]>
> ------------------------------
>
>
>
> Dear SPSS users,
> I have a very straight forward syntax for importing variables and data to
> use on multiple txt files. After variable definition, and labeling I save
> the out file with the same name as the input txt file.
> Does anyone know how I can loop the GET DATA, VARIABLE LABELS, and SAVE
> commands through a list of input text files?
>
> Here is the syntax
> GET DATA
> /TYPE = TXT
> /FILE = 'dir\fileX.txt'
> /ARRANGEMENT = DELIMITED
> /FIRSTCASE = 1
> /DELCASE = LINE
> /DELIMITERS = "\t"
> /IMPORTCASE = ALL
> /VARIABLES =
> a F10.2
> b F10.2
> c F10.2 etc.
>
> VARIABLE LABELS a 'labela' b 'labelb' etc.
>
> SAVE OUTFILE =  'dir\FileX.sav'.
>
> Thanks for your time
> Kam
>
> =====================
> To manage your subscription to SPSSX-L, send a message to
> [e-mail] (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
>
>
>


--
-K.

[Rick Oliver-3]

This is a Python program run from within SPSS, running in a syntax window. Begin Program and End Program are SPSS commands that identify the beginning and end of Python block. You need to install the Python plug-in for SPSS in order for this to work. You can also run the code from Python (without Begin Program/End Program), although there may be some additional code required to start SPSS.

From:	K T <[hidden email]>
To:	Rick Oliver/Chicago/IBM@IBMUS
Cc:	[hidden email]
Date:	06/15/2010 12:11 PM
Subject:	Re: GET DATA to multiple TXT files

---

Thank you Rick. I know nothing about Python, and even less about SPSS together with Python. I am assuming this is a Python shell script I call at the command line. FYI I am running Python 2.5.1 on IDLE on a XP machine. I get the following error running the shell:
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "S:\tavabik\CHOP\NIH6\MEG\adata\SAM\SPSS\GETDATApy", line 40, in <module>
    """%locals())
ValueError: unsupported format character 't' (0x74) at index 88
Any idea what is going on here.?

On Mon, Jun 14, 2010 at 5:29 PM, Rick Oliver <oliverr@...> wrote:

Here's a Python solution:

begin program python.
import spss
filename=['file1', 'file2', 'file3']
for name in filename:
 spss.Submit("""
GET DATA
/TYPE = TXT
/FILE = 'dir\%(name)s.txt'
/ARRANGEMENT = DELIMITED
/FIRSTCASE = 1
/DELCASE = LINE
/DELIMITERS = "\t"
/IMPORTCASE = ALL
/VARIABLES =
a F10.2
b F10.2
c F10.2 etc.
VARIABLE LABELS a 'labela' b 'labelb' etc.
SAVE OUTFILE =  '%(name)s.sav'.
  """ %locals())
end program.

From:	Kam T <cambysese@...>
To:	[hidden email]
Date:	06/14/2010 04:11 PM
Subject:	GET DATA to multiple TXT files
Sent by:	"SPSSX(r) Discussion" <[hidden email]>

---

Dear SPSS users,
I have a very straight forward syntax for importing variables and data to
use on multiple txt files. After variable definition, and labeling I save
the out file with the same name as the input txt file.
Does anyone know how I can loop the GET DATA, VARIABLE LABELS, and SAVE
commands through a list of input text files?

Here is the syntax
GET DATA
/TYPE = TXT
/FILE = 'dir\fileX.txt'
/ARRANGEMENT = DELIMITED
/FIRSTCASE = 1
/DELCASE = LINE
/DELIMITERS = "\t"
/IMPORTCASE = ALL
/VARIABLES =
a F10.2
b F10.2
c F10.2 etc.

VARIABLE LABELS a 'labela' b 'labelb' etc.

SAVE OUTFILE =  'dir\FileX.sav'.

Thanks for your time
Kam

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--
-K.

[varranda]

Hi Bruce,

Not sure you're still on the list but maybe someone else can help...

I'm a new SPSS user (much more expereience in SAS but that is not an option on this project).

I'm trying to use a variation of the SPSS macro you suggested previusly to import multiple txt files (not delimited) but I'm running into trouble with the GET DATA command.

Or perhaps there is an easier way to do this now?


I get:
"ERROR Command name: Get Data Failure to open file."


I suspect this is something simple, but I'm having no success troubleshooting.


Thank you in advance,
Victoria


Syntax:

define !getfiles ( flist !cmdend )

!do !f !in (!flist)

GET DATA
 /TYPE = TXT
 /FILE = !quote(!concat("Z:\Data Entry\",!f,".txt"))
  /FIXCASE=1
  /ARRANGEMENT=FIXED
  /FIRSTCASE=1
  /IMPORTCASE=ALL
  /VARIABLES=
/1 ID1_0 0-3 F4.0

...


DATASET NAME !quote(!concat("Z:\Data Entry\",!f,".sav")) .

!doend

!enddefine .

[Richard Ristow]

At 04:15 PM 7/23/2012, varranda wrote:

>I'm trying to use an SPSS macro to import multiple txt files (not
>delimited) but I'm running into trouble with the GET DATA command.
>
>Or perhaps there is an easier way to do this now?
>
>I get:
>"ERROR Command name: Get Data Failure to open file."

First, try running your macro with SET MPRINT ON -- put this just
before the invocation, not the definition. I ran yours, not trying to
actually read data; when I ran with

!getfiles flist=a b c.

the GET FILES commands expanded like this:

  147 M>  GET DATA /TYPE = TXT /FILE = 'Z:\Data Entry\a.txt'
/FIXCASE=1 /ARRANGEM
             ENT=FIXED /FIRSTCASE=1 /IMPORTCASE=ALL /VARIABLES= /1
ID1_0 0-3 F4.0
             .

On the face of it that's syntactically valid, and the SPSS
interpreter noted no syntax errors. I got the same error you did, but
I really have no such file. Anyway, use MPRINT to look at exactly the
GET FILES your macro expands into, and see if somehow they're
pointing to files that really *don't* exist.

Second, your DATASET NAME commands specify the full file and path
name. That isn't valid; the dataset name must be a valid SPSS name,
among other things having no embedded "\". I suggest

DATASET NAME !f .


This isn't a full solution, but maybe it's a starting point.

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[Bruce Weaver]

Good suggestions by Richard.  

One other comment is that your macro will only work (I think) if the text file names contain no spaces.  Is that true of your file names?  

HTH.

Richard Ristow wrote

At 04:15 PM 7/23/2012, varranda wrote:

>I'm trying to use an SPSS macro to import multiple txt files (not
>delimited) but I'm running into trouble with the GET DATA command.
>
>Or perhaps there is an easier way to do this now?
>
>I get:
>"ERROR Command name: Get Data Failure to open file."

First, try running your macro with SET MPRINT ON -- put this just
before the invocation, not the definition. I ran yours, not trying to
actually read data; when I ran with

!getfiles flist=a b c.

the GET FILES commands expanded like this:

  147 M>  GET DATA /TYPE = TXT /FILE = 'Z:\Data Entry\a.txt'
/FIXCASE=1 /ARRANGEM
             ENT=FIXED /FIRSTCASE=1 /IMPORTCASE=ALL /VARIABLES= /1
ID1_0 0-3 F4.0
             .

On the face of it that's syntactically valid, and the SPSS
interpreter noted no syntax errors. I got the same error you did, but
I really have no such file. Anyway, use MPRINT to look at exactly the
GET FILES your macro expands into, and see if somehow they're
pointing to files that really *don't* exist.

Second, your DATASET NAME commands specify the full file and path
name. That isn't valid; the dataset name must be a valid SPSS name,
among other things having no embedded "\". I suggest

DATASET NAME !f .


This isn't a full solution, but maybe it's a starting point.

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[varranda]

Thanks for the help!

There was an issue with the file names and paths (now fixed) and I think I have isolated the problem to the DATASET NAME line.

If I write in a single file name (i.e., DATASET NAME baseimport .  )  the macro runs but replaces this dataset with each subsequent txt import file (logical).

If I try to use just !f as the file name (i.e., DATASET NAME !f  . ) I get the following warning:

"Expecting dataset name or WINDOW. Found 20120713. [my file name] Execution of command stops."

But it still appears to have imported at least the last data file because the data from 20120713 is visible in the untitled data editor - "Untitled 3".  And, if I re-run the macro the untitled data visible in the data editor is now "untitled 6" - so I think it's actually importing the three data sets I'm just not directing it to save them how/where I want...

I think perhaps I am confused about where SPSS is storing the data after import (I'm used the library set-up of SAS) so I'm going to go find more thorough SPSS documentation.


Any other suggestions are very much appreciated!

Thanks,
Victoria



SET MPRINT ON .

define !getfiles ( flist !cmdend )

!do !f !in (!flist)

GET DATA
 /TYPE = TXT
  /FILE = !quote(!concat("C:\SPSStest\",!f,".txt"))
  /FIXCASE=1
  /ARRANGEMENT=FIXED
  /FIRSTCASE=1
  /IMPORTCASE=ALL
  /VARIABLES=
/1 ID1_0 0-3 F4.0

EXECUTE.

DATASET NAME ??? .

!doend

!enddefine .


!getfiles flist = 20111122 20120119 20120713 .

[David Marso]

From the FM:
"DATA SET NAME:
Basic Specification
The basic specification for DATASET NAME is the command name followed by a name that
conforms to variable naming rules. For more information, see the topic Variable Names on p. 50.
.....From pg 50...
"Variable names can be up to 64 bytes long, and the first character must be a letter or one of
the characters @, #, or $. Subsequent characters can be any combination of letters, numbers........."
---
OP: "I think perhaps I am confused about where SPSS is storing the data after import"...
It is *NOT* storing the data because you are tossing it into the bit bucket since you neither SAVE the data file NOR do you provide a properly specified DATASET NAME.

Maybe try altering the offending command with?
DATASET NAME !CONCAT(XX,!f).
??? .
---

varranda wrote

Thanks for the help!

There was an issue with the file names and paths (now fixed) and I think I have isolated the problem to the DATASET NAME line.

If I write in a single file name (i.e., DATASET NAME baseimport .  )  the macro runs but replaces this dataset with each subsequent txt import file (logical).

If I try to use just !f as the file name (i.e., DATASET NAME !f  . ) I get the following warning:

"Expecting dataset name or WINDOW. Found 20120713. [my file name] Execution of command stops."

But it still appears to have imported at least the last data file because the data from 20120713 is visible in the untitled data editor - "Untitled 3".  And, if I re-run the macro the untitled data visible in the data editor is now "untitled 6" - so I think it's actually importing the three data sets I'm just not directing it to save them how/where I want...

I think perhaps I am confused about where SPSS is storing the data after import (I'm used the library set-up of SAS) so I'm going to go find more thorough SPSS documentation.


Any other suggestions are very much appreciated!

Thanks,
Victoria



SET MPRINT ON .

define !getfiles ( flist !cmdend )

!do !f !in (!flist)

GET DATA
 /TYPE = TXT
  /FILE = !quote(!concat("C:\SPSStest\",!f,".txt"))
  /FIXCASE=1
  /ARRANGEMENT=FIXED
  /FIRSTCASE=1
  /IMPORTCASE=ALL
  /VARIABLES=
/1 ID1_0 0-3 F4.0

EXECUTE.

DATASET NAME ??? .

!doend

!enddefine .


!getfiles flist = 20111122 20120119 20120713 .

[Rick Oliver-3]

It will read the files just fine, but the dataset names are not valid since they don't follow variable naming rules. In the absence of valid dataset names, the files are opened sequentially and at the end only the last file opened is available for any further processing, because that's what happens when datasets are unnamed.

Rick Oliver
Senior Information Developer
IBM Business Analytics (SPSS)
E-mail: [hidden email]
Phone: [phone] | T/L: 206-4922



From:        varranda <[hidden email]>
To:        [hidden email],
Date:        07/24/2012 11:25 AM
Subject:        Re: GET DATA to multiple TXT files
Sent by:        "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <[hidden email]>

---

Thanks for the help!

There was an issue with the file names and paths (now fixed) and I think I
have isolated the problem to the DATASET NAME line.

If I write in a single file name (i.e., DATASET NAME baseimport .  )  the
macro runs but replaces this dataset with each subsequent txt import file
(logical).

If I try to use just !f as the file name (i.e., DATASET NAME !f  . ) I get
the following warning:

"Expecting dataset name or WINDOW. Found 20120713. [my file name] Execution
of command stops."

But it still appears to have imported at least the last data file because
the data from 20120713 is visible in the untitled data editor - "Untitled
3".  And, if I re-run the macro the untitled data visible in the data editor
is now "untitled 6" - so I think it's actually importing the three data sets
I'm just not directing it to save them how/where I want...

I think perhaps I am confused about where SPSS is storing the data after
import (I'm used the library set-up of SAS) so I'm going to go find more
thorough SPSS documentation.


Any other suggestions are very much appreciated!

Thanks,
Victoria



SET MPRINT ON .

define !getfiles ( flist !cmdend )

!do !f !in (!flist)

GET DATA
/TYPE = TXT
 /FILE = !quote(!concat("C:\SPSStest\",!f,".txt"))
 /FIXCASE=1
 /ARRANGEMENT=FIXED
 /FIRSTCASE=1
 /IMPORTCASE=ALL
 /VARIABLES=
/1 ID1_0 0-3 F4.0

EXECUTE.

DATASET NAME ??? .

!doend

!enddefine .


!getfiles flist = 20111122 20120119 20120713 .




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[Richard Ristow]

I'll duplicate some of what David Marso wrote, but maybe expand a little.
At 12:06 PM 7/24/2012, varranda wrote:

>I think I have isolated the problem to the DATASET NAME line.
>
>If I write in a single file name (i.e., DATASET NAME baseimport
>.  )  the macro runs but replaces this dataset with each subsequent
>txt import file (logical).

Right. In detail(*),
. All (loaded) SPSS data is in SPSS datasets
. There is one 'active' dataset; syntax commands act on the active
dataset. It may, but need not, have a name.
. There may be one or more 'inactive' dataset, but *they must have names*.
. When a new dataset is opened, e.g. by GET FILE or GET DATA, it
becomes the active dataset, replacing the previous active one. If the
previous active dataset had a named, it becomes inactive under that
name. If it had no name, it is lost.
. If the active dataset is given the name of an existing inactive
dataset, that inactive dataset is lost.

So, when you use

DATASET NAME baseimport .

each file you load goes into a new active dataset, which you then
name 'baseimport', losing a previous dataset with that name.

>If I try to use just !f as the file name (i.e., DATASET NAME !f  . ) I get
>the following warning:
>
>"Expecting dataset name or WINDOW. Found 20120713. [my file name] Executi
>of command stops."

Right. As David Marso wrote, "20120713" is not a valid SPSS name; so
it can't be a dataset name; so the DATASET NAME command isn't
executed, your dataset remains unnamed, and it's lost when you start
a new one. David Marso's suggestion is a good one: prefix your file
name with something alphabetic, so the result is a valid name.

DATASET NAME !CONCAT('File_',!f).

>But it still appears to have imported at least the last data file
>because the data from 20120713 is visible in the untitled data
>editor - "Untitled 3".

Exactly. In fact, it's imported all the data files; but because the
DATASET NAME commands didn't work, each imported file was in an
unnamed dataset, and was lost when a new dataset was opened. You
didn't replace your last-created dataset, so it remains active and
loaded even though unnamed.

..............................................
(*) Stop! You may not want to read from here on. It's correct, but
it's easily confusing, and it's not relevant to your problem.

The term 'active dataset' is used in *two* senses in SPSS
documentation: as I've used it above (to mean the dataset that syntax
acts on); or to mean the dataset whose Data Editor window is in the
foreground, whose variables are displayed in the menus for commands.
They need not be the same.

I recommend, to help keep them the same, specifying WINDoW=FRONT on
all DATASET NAME and DATASET ACTIVATE commands.

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