Help using vectors and loops

[Marta García-Granero]

Hi again A-J

I felt a bit bored with my present work, and I grabbed the opportunity
of loosing some time fiddling with SPSS syntax.

This works OK:

DEFINE qwerty ().
* This assumes an existing file *.
DO IF ($casenum EQ 1).
WRITE OUTFILE 'C:\Temp\Included.sps'
 /"DATA LIST FIXED/NoData 1-5(A)."
 /"BEGIN DATA"
 /"empty"
 /"END DATA.".
END IF.
* Sometimes I get an error saying the sps file is already in use and
  can't be included, the following two lines avoid it (with my excuses
  to Richard for using an execute!) *.
CACHE.
EXE.
INCLUDE 'C:\Temp\Included.sps'.
!ENDDEFINE.

qwerty.


Regards,
Marta

AjR> Sometimes I create a mini data set just to unload the
AjR> current data set so I can rename it, change the
AjR> attributes, move it, etc. But why does the syntax
AjR> below not work? SPSS keeps giving the message 'waiting
AjR> for more inline data'. Indenting, or putting
AjR> everything on one line does not help. Any ideas?

[Beadle, ViAnn]

How about a simple NEW FILE command in place of the macro?

________________________________

From: SPSSX(r) Discussion on behalf of Marta García-Granero
Sent: Fri 10/27/2006 9:33 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: data list within a simple macro won't work



Hi Albert-Jan

(You shouldn't complain, my parents christened me using 4 names,
fortunately, only one shows in my documents and ID card)

Now, seriously:

AjR> Sometimes I create a mini data set just to unload the
AjR> current data set so I can rename it, change the
AjR> attributes, move it, etc. But why does the syntax
AjR> below not work? SPSS keeps giving the message 'waiting
AjR> for more inline data'. Indenting, or putting
AjR> everything on one line does not help. Any ideas?

AjR> Albert-Jan
AjR> (that guy so nice they named him twice ;-))

After a bit of T&E (Trial and Error, the best method to learn SPSS
syntax sometimes - wry smile), I've found out this:

The BEGIN DATA... END DATA part should be outside the macro, I'm
afraid. I couldn't find any reference of that in the syntax guide (but
that doesn't necessarily mean it isn't there, I've failed to notice
some items in the past).

This works OK, but is of little use:

DEFINE !qwerty().
INPUT PROGRAM.
DATA LIST FIXED/NoData 1-5 (A).
END INPUT PROGRAM.
EXECUTE.
!ENDDEFINE.

!qwerty.
BEGIN DATA
empty
END DATA.

I have tried to put the BEGIN DATA... END DATA inside a second macro
to call them consecutevely, but it doesn't work either.

The only thing I can concoct in my brain is to use WRITE OUTFILE to save
to disk a file with the necessary commands, and then INCLUDE OR INSERT
it.

Don't blame the messenger...


--
Regards,
Dr. Marta García-Granero,PhD           mailto:[hidden email]
Statistician

---
"It is unwise to use a statistical procedure whose use one does
not understand. SPSS syntax guide cannot supply this knowledge, and it
is certainly no substitute for the basic understanding of statistics
and statistical thinking that is essential for the wise choice of
methods and the correct interpretation of their results".

(Adapted from WinPepi manual - I'm sure Joe Abrahmson will not mind)

[Bauer, John H.]

Try a more liberal sprinkling of periods!

define qwerty ().
data list / empty 1-5 (a).
begin data.
empty
end data.
!enddefine.

qwerty.
end data.

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Beadle, ViAnn
Sent: Friday, October 27, 2006 9:51 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: data list within a simple macro won't work

How about a simple NEW FILE command in place of the macro?

________________________________

From: SPSSX(r) Discussion on behalf of Marta García-Granero
Sent: Fri 10/27/2006 9:33 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: data list within a simple macro won't work



Hi Albert-Jan

(You shouldn't complain, my parents christened me using 4 names, fortunately, only one shows in my documents and ID card)

Now, seriously:

AjR> Sometimes I create a mini data set just to unload the current data
AjR> set so I can rename it, change the attributes, move it, etc. But
AjR> why does the syntax below not work? SPSS keeps giving the message
AjR> 'waiting for more inline data'. Indenting, or putting everything on
AjR> one line does not help. Any ideas?

AjR> Albert-Jan
AjR> (that guy so nice they named him twice ;-))

After a bit of T&E (Trial and Error, the best method to learn SPSS syntax sometimes - wry smile), I've found out this:

The BEGIN DATA... END DATA part should be outside the macro, I'm afraid. I couldn't find any reference of that in the syntax guide (but that doesn't necessarily mean it isn't there, I've failed to notice some items in the past).

This works OK, but is of little use:

DEFINE !qwerty().
INPUT PROGRAM.
DATA LIST FIXED/NoData 1-5 (A).
END INPUT PROGRAM.
EXECUTE.
!ENDDEFINE.

!qwerty.
BEGIN DATA
empty
END DATA.

I have tried to put the BEGIN DATA... END DATA inside a second macro to call them consecutevely, but it doesn't work either.

The only thing I can concoct in my brain is to use WRITE OUTFILE to save to disk a file with the necessary commands, and then INCLUDE OR INSERT it.

Don't blame the messenger...


--
Regards,
Dr. Marta García-Granero,PhD           mailto:[hidden email]
Statistician

---
"It is unwise to use a statistical procedure whose use one does not understand. SPSS syntax guide cannot supply this knowledge, and it is certainly no substitute for the basic understanding of statistics and statistical thinking that is essential for the wise choice of methods and the correct interpretation of their results".

(Adapted from WinPepi manual - I'm sure Joe Abrahmson will not mind)

[Dominic Lusinchi]

John,

I thought the BEGIN DATA-END DATA command was not allow inside a macro (?).

Has that changed with versions 14 and up?

Thanks.

Dominic Lusinchi
Statistician
Far West Research
Statistical Consulting
San Francisco, California
415-664-3032
www.farwestresearch.com
-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
Bauer, John H.
Sent: Friday, October 27, 2006 9:33 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: data list within a simple macro won't work

Try a more liberal sprinkling of periods!

define qwerty ().
data list / empty 1-5 (a).
begin data.
empty
end data.
!enddefine.

qwerty.
end data.

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
Beadle, ViAnn
Sent: Friday, October 27, 2006 9:51 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: data list within a simple macro won't work

How about a simple NEW FILE command in place of the macro?

________________________________

From: SPSSX(r) Discussion on behalf of Marta García-Granero
Sent: Fri 10/27/2006 9:33 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: data list within a simple macro won't work



Hi Albert-Jan

(You shouldn't complain, my parents christened me using 4 names,
fortunately, only one shows in my documents and ID card)

Now, seriously:

AjR> Sometimes I create a mini data set just to unload the current data
AjR> set so I can rename it, change the attributes, move it, etc. But
AjR> why does the syntax below not work? SPSS keeps giving the message
AjR> 'waiting for more inline data'. Indenting, or putting everything on
AjR> one line does not help. Any ideas?

AjR> Albert-Jan
AjR> (that guy so nice they named him twice ;-))

After a bit of T&E (Trial and Error, the best method to learn SPSS syntax
sometimes - wry smile), I've found out this:

The BEGIN DATA... END DATA part should be outside the macro, I'm afraid. I
couldn't find any reference of that in the syntax guide (but that doesn't
necessarily mean it isn't there, I've failed to notice some items in the
past).

This works OK, but is of little use:

DEFINE !qwerty().
INPUT PROGRAM.
DATA LIST FIXED/NoData 1-5 (A).
END INPUT PROGRAM.
EXECUTE.
!ENDDEFINE.

!qwerty.
BEGIN DATA
empty
END DATA.

I have tried to put the BEGIN DATA... END DATA inside a second macro to call
them consecutevely, but it doesn't work either.

The only thing I can concoct in my brain is to use WRITE OUTFILE to save to
disk a file with the necessary commands, and then INCLUDE OR INSERT it.

Don't blame the messenger...


--
Regards,
Dr. Marta García-Granero,PhD           mailto:[hidden email]
Statistician

---
"It is unwise to use a statistical procedure whose use one does not
understand. SPSS syntax guide cannot supply this knowledge, and it is
certainly no substitute for the basic understanding of statistics and
statistical thinking that is essential for the wise choice of methods and
the correct interpretation of their results".

(Adapted from WinPepi manual - I'm sure Joe Abrahmson will not mind)

[Bauer, John H.]

Whoops, it only worked because there was a fragment from a previous run; exactly the sort of thing that makes debugging macros so perilous.

In versions 14.0 and up one should of course use Programmability.  I do this sort of thing with Python all the time.

-----Original Message-----
From: Dominic Lusinchi [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: Friday, October 27, 2006 2:20 PM
To: Bauer, John H.; [hidden email]
Subject: RE: data list within a simple macro won't work

John,

I thought the BEGIN DATA-END DATA command was not allow inside a macro (?).

Has that changed with versions 14 and up?

Thanks.

Dominic Lusinchi
Statistician
Far West Research
Statistical Consulting
San Francisco, California
415-664-3032
www.farwestresearch.com
-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Bauer, John H.
Sent: Friday, October 27, 2006 9:33 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: data list within a simple macro won't work

Try a more liberal sprinkling of periods!

define qwerty ().
data list / empty 1-5 (a).
begin data.
empty
end data.
!enddefine.

qwerty.
end data.

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Beadle, ViAnn
Sent: Friday, October 27, 2006 9:51 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: data list within a simple macro won't work

How about a simple NEW FILE command in place of the macro?

________________________________

From: SPSSX(r) Discussion on behalf of Marta García-Granero
Sent: Fri 10/27/2006 9:33 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: data list within a simple macro won't work



Hi Albert-Jan

(You shouldn't complain, my parents christened me using 4 names, fortunately, only one shows in my documents and ID card)

Now, seriously:

AjR> Sometimes I create a mini data set just to unload the current data
AjR> set so I can rename it, change the attributes, move it, etc. But
AjR> why does the syntax below not work? SPSS keeps giving the message
AjR> 'waiting for more inline data'. Indenting, or putting everything on
AjR> one line does not help. Any ideas?

AjR> Albert-Jan
AjR> (that guy so nice they named him twice ;-))

After a bit of T&E (Trial and Error, the best method to learn SPSS syntax sometimes - wry smile), I've found out this:

The BEGIN DATA... END DATA part should be outside the macro, I'm afraid. I couldn't find any reference of that in the syntax guide (but that doesn't necessarily mean it isn't there, I've failed to notice some items in the past).

This works OK, but is of little use:

DEFINE !qwerty().
INPUT PROGRAM.
DATA LIST FIXED/NoData 1-5 (A).
END INPUT PROGRAM.
EXECUTE.
!ENDDEFINE.

!qwerty.
BEGIN DATA
empty
END DATA.

I have tried to put the BEGIN DATA... END DATA inside a second macro to call them consecutevely, but it doesn't work either.

The only thing I can concoct in my brain is to use WRITE OUTFILE to save to disk a file with the necessary commands, and then INCLUDE OR INSERT it.

Don't blame the messenger...


--
Regards,
Dr. Marta García-Granero,PhD           mailto:[hidden email]
Statistician

---
"It is unwise to use a statistical procedure whose use one does not understand. SPSS syntax guide cannot supply this knowledge, and it is certainly no substitute for the basic understanding of statistics and statistical thinking that is essential for the wise choice of methods and the correct interpretation of their results".

(Adapted from WinPepi manual - I'm sure Joe Abrahmson will not mind)

[Richard Ristow]

At 10:45 AM 10/27/2006, Marta García-Granero wrote:

>I felt a bit bored with my present work, and I
>grabbed the opportunity of loosing some time fiddling with SPSS syntax.
>
>DEFINE qwerty ().
>* This assumes an existing file *.
>DO IF ($casenum EQ 1).
>WRITE OUTFILE 'C:\Temp\Included.sps'
>  /"DATA LIST FIXED/NoData 1-5(A)."
>  /"BEGIN DATA"
>  /"empty"
>  /"END DATA.".
>END IF.
>* Sometimes I get an error saying the sps file is already in use and
>   can't be included, the following two lines
> avoid it (with my excuses
>   to Richard for using an execute!) *.
>CACHE.
>EXE.

:-D Actually it shouldn't work without the
EXECUTE (I don't know about the CACHE); this is
one of the things EXECUTE is for.

If you're writing a transformation whose purpose
is NOT to transform the working file, but to
output using PRINT, WRITE, or XSAVE, you need a
procedure to force the program to be run even
though you're not using its main output. To the
rescue, EXECUTE, the procedure that does nothing...

It should always have said the file was already
in use. Once a transformation program opens an
output file (destination of WRITE or XSAVE; or
PRINT, if directed to a file), the file stays
open until the transformation program ends, and
shouldn't be available for opening by any other path.

"It's not the planning, it's the execution."