Platforms that SPSS-X ran on in 1988

[Art Kendall-2]

Is there documentation somewhere about what platforms (brand of machine,
operating system) SPSS-X ran on in 1988?


Art Kendall
Social Research Consultants

[Richard Ristow]

At 09:42 AM 8/25/2007, Art Kendall wrote:

>Is there documentation somewhere about what platforms (brand of
>machine, operating system) SPSS-X ran on in 1988?

Probably SPSSX release 3 for "mainframe" (IBM OS/360 and its
successors, and possibly VM-370/CMS); probably also available on
Digital Equipment Corporation's VMS for VAX, possibly also for Unix

Release 4, c. 1990, was described as running on "IBM PC, PS/2, and
compatible computer running O/2, Apple Macintosh computers,
workstations, minicomputers, and larger systems under UNIX and
VAX/VMS." [I've seen no direct information whether this applies to
release 3]
--Necia A. Black; "Re: Suggest: List of SPSS releases, with dates";
SPSSX-L posting, Mon, 13 Aug 2007 <17:04:59 -0400>


It is likely that some version of SPSS-PC was also available.



=====================
For details, possibly 'too much information,' see the entirety of
recent thread "Suggest: List of SPSS releases, with dates", Mon, 13 Aug
2007 <15:06:04 -0400> ff. (Special thanks to Richard Oliver of SPSS,
Inc.)

If I understand Richard Oliver and others correctly, SPSS releases were


* SPSS 1-9 for the "mainframe" (IBM OS/360 and its successors, and
possibly VM-370/CMS, possibly Unix.) Approximate release dates:

. Release ?: c. 1970
--date of Nie, Norman H., et al, *Statistical Package for the Social
Sciences*, first edition, date given in second edition cited below.

. Release 6: c. 1975
--date of the "maroon manual", Nie, Norman H., et al, *Statistical
Package for the Social Sciences* 2nd edition.

. Release 9: c. 1981
--date of Hull, C. Hadlai, and Norman H. Nie, *SPSS Update 7-9*

Some releases may have been available for Unix, as well:
"There was also a version 6 for 'mainframes' (Included in there are
different 'flavours of UNIX )"
--Lemon, John S.; thread cited, Mon, 13 Aug 2007 <21:03:48 +0100>)


* Then came SPSSX for the mainframe, apparently a conscious word-play
on "SPSS 10"; cf. Mac OSX. SPSSX was a major rewrite, adding recent
features such as MATCH FILES.

. SPSSX (aka SPSSX release 1): c. 1983 (SPSS, Inc., *User's Guide
SPSSX*)

. SPSSX release 2: c. 1986
-- from printed copy of electronic guide to new features); see also
Mark A. Davenport; thread cited, Mon, 13 Aug 2007 <17:00:10 -0400>

. SPSSX release 3: c. 1988
-- (same posting)

. SPSSX release 4: c. 1990
"Wasn't there a mainframe version of spss that came out in either the
late 80's or really early 90's that was called 4 or 4.1?"
--Gene Maguin; thread cited, Mon, 13 Aug 2007 <15:57:54 -0400>;
"There was indeed the manual [Gene] describes. The
syntax described within was for "IBM PC, PS/2, and compatible computer
running O/2, Apple Macintosh computers, workstations, minicomputers,
and
larger systems under UNIX and VAX/VMS."
--Necia A. Black; thread cited, Mon, 13 Aug 2007 <17:04:59 -0400>


* SPSS for Windows release 5 followed; that's the series of releases
we're currently in, with SPSS 15 the latest and SPSS 16 due out soon.
Notice that this continues the series of releases beginning with SPSSX
[release 1].
--Oliver, Richard; thread cited, Mon, 13 Aug 2007 <14:16:39 -0500>;
"I believe SPSS 5.0 for Windows was the first release for Microsoft
Windows featuring a graphical user interface. The releases that
followed included: 6.0, 6.1, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 9.0, 10.0, 10.1, 11.0,
11.5, 12.0, 13.0, 14.0, 15.0"
--Jason Burke; thread cited, Tue, 14 Aug 2007 <17:28:52 +1000>

...............
In addition, there was SPSS-PC, a separate program with considerably
different (and cut-down) features and syntax, and a separate series of
release numbers.

. "SPSS/PC+ had an independent version numbering system that stopped
somewhere around 5."
--Oliver, Richard; thread cited, Mon, 13 Aug 2007 <15:16:28 -0500>

. "I have SPSS/PC+ diskettes dated 22 Jan 92.  These are labeled
V4.0.1" - Victor Kogler, "", posting to SPSSX-L Mon, 13 Aug 2007
<12:45:40 -0700>.

[Lemon, John S.]

As far as I know it was also running on Honeywell ? Bull kit under both GCOS and CP-6

Best Wishes

John S. Lemon
DIT - University of Aberdeen
Edward Wright Building: Room G51
Tel:  [phone]
Fax: [phone]


-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Richard Ristow
Sent: 25 August 2007 20:40
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: Platforms that SPSS-X ran on in 1988

At 09:42 AM 8/25/2007, Art Kendall wrote:

>Is there documentation somewhere about what platforms (brand of
>machine, operating system) SPSS-X ran on in 1988?

Probably SPSSX release 3 for "mainframe" (IBM OS/360 and its
successors, and possibly VM-370/CMS); probably also available on
Digital Equipment Corporation's VMS for VAX, possibly also for Unix

Release 4, c. 1990, was described as running on "IBM PC, PS/2, and
compatible computer running O/2, Apple Macintosh computers,
workstations, minicomputers, and larger systems under UNIX and
VAX/VMS." [I've seen no direct information whether this applies to
release 3]
--Necia A. Black; "Re: Suggest: List of SPSS releases, with dates";
SPSSX-L posting, Mon, 13 Aug 2007 <17:04:59 -0400>


It is likely that some version of SPSS-PC was also available.



=====================
For details, possibly 'too much information,' see the entirety of
recent thread "Suggest: List of SPSS releases, with dates", Mon, 13 Aug
2007 <15:06:04 -0400> ff. (Special thanks to Richard Oliver of SPSS,
Inc.)

If I understand Richard Oliver and others correctly, SPSS releases were


* SPSS 1-9 for the "mainframe" (IBM OS/360 and its successors, and
possibly VM-370/CMS, possibly Unix.) Approximate release dates:

. Release ?: c. 1970
--date of Nie, Norman H., et al, *Statistical Package for the Social
Sciences*, first edition, date given in second edition cited below.

. Release 6: c. 1975
--date of the "maroon manual", Nie, Norman H., et al, *Statistical
Package for the Social Sciences* 2nd edition.

. Release 9: c. 1981
--date of Hull, C. Hadlai, and Norman H. Nie, *SPSS Update 7-9*

Some releases may have been available for Unix, as well:
"There was also a version 6 for 'mainframes' (Included in there are
different 'flavours of UNIX )"
--Lemon, John S.; thread cited, Mon, 13 Aug 2007 <21:03:48 +0100>)


* Then came SPSSX for the mainframe, apparently a conscious word-play
on "SPSS 10"; cf. Mac OSX. SPSSX was a major rewrite, adding recent
features such as MATCH FILES.

. SPSSX (aka SPSSX release 1): c. 1983 (SPSS, Inc., *User's Guide
SPSSX*)

. SPSSX release 2: c. 1986
-- from printed copy of electronic guide to new features); see also
Mark A. Davenport; thread cited, Mon, 13 Aug 2007 <17:00:10 -0400>

. SPSSX release 3: c. 1988
-- (same posting)

. SPSSX release 4: c. 1990
"Wasn't there a mainframe version of spss that came out in either the
late 80's or really early 90's that was called 4 or 4.1?"
--Gene Maguin; thread cited, Mon, 13 Aug 2007 <15:57:54 -0400>;
"There was indeed the manual [Gene] describes. The
syntax described within was for "IBM PC, PS/2, and compatible computer
running O/2, Apple Macintosh computers, workstations, minicomputers,
and
larger systems under UNIX and VAX/VMS."
--Necia A. Black; thread cited, Mon, 13 Aug 2007 <17:04:59 -0400>


* SPSS for Windows release 5 followed; that's the series of releases
we're currently in, with SPSS 15 the latest and SPSS 16 due out soon.
Notice that this continues the series of releases beginning with SPSSX
[release 1].
--Oliver, Richard; thread cited, Mon, 13 Aug 2007 <14:16:39 -0500>;
"I believe SPSS 5.0 for Windows was the first release for Microsoft
Windows featuring a graphical user interface. The releases that
followed included: 6.0, 6.1, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 9.0, 10.0, 10.1, 11.0,
11.5, 12.0, 13.0, 14.0, 15.0"
--Jason Burke; thread cited, Tue, 14 Aug 2007 <17:28:52 +1000>

...............
In addition, there was SPSS-PC, a separate program with considerably
different (and cut-down) features and syntax, and a separate series of
release numbers.

. "SPSS/PC+ had an independent version numbering system that stopped
somewhere around 5."
--Oliver, Richard; thread cited, Mon, 13 Aug 2007 <15:16:28 -0500>

. "I have SPSS/PC+ diskettes dated 22 Jan 92.  These are labeled
V4.0.1" - Victor Kogler, "", posting to SPSSX-L Mon, 13 Aug 2007
<12:45:40 -0700>.

[Art Kendall]

The SPSS-X manual 3rd edition (3.0) copyright 1988 mentions that there
are additional manuals
for adding user programs to IBM (CMS and MVS) and for Digital VAX./VMS
for CAPTURE for VAX/DATATRIEVE and IBM SQL/DS and HP3000
for Programmers Guide to SPSS-X Data file formats for IBM, DECSYSTEM20,
VAX, and Prime.

I had a feeling that it also ran on IBM TSO , IBM/WYLBUR, DEC-10. UNIVAC
and some UNIXes, but was look for documentation.

Surprisingly, SPSS-X ran on myVAXStation 3100 which have a smaller
systems box than a PC!

Does anyone old sales brochures in their files?

This question, of course, came up on a Saturday.  Monday I guess I can
call SPSS.

Art




Richard Ristow wrote:

> At 09:42 AM 8/25/2007, Art Kendall wrote:
>
>> Is there documentation somewhere about what platforms (brand of
>> machine, operating system) SPSS-X ran on in 1988?
>
> Probably SPSSX release 3 for "mainframe" (IBM OS/360 and its
> successors, and possibly VM-370/CMS); probably also available on
> Digital Equipment Corporation's VMS for VAX, possibly also for Unix
>
> Release 4, c. 1990, was described as running on "IBM PC, PS/2, and
> compatible computer running O/2, Apple Macintosh computers,
> workstations, minicomputers, and larger systems under UNIX and
> VAX/VMS." [I've seen no direct information whether this applies to
> release 3]
> --Necia A. Black; "Re: Suggest: List of SPSS releases, with dates";
> SPSSX-L posting, Mon, 13 Aug 2007 <17:04:59 -0400>
>
>
> It is likely that some version of SPSS-PC was also available.
>
>
>
> =====================
> For details, possibly 'too much information,' see the entirety of
> recent thread "Suggest: List of SPSS releases, with dates", Mon, 13
> Aug 2007 <15:06:04 -0400> ff. (Special thanks to Richard Oliver of
> SPSS, Inc.)
>
> If I understand Richard Oliver and others correctly, SPSS releases were
>
>
> * SPSS 1-9 for the "mainframe" (IBM OS/360 and its successors, and
> possibly VM-370/CMS, possibly Unix.) Approximate release dates:
>
> . Release ?: c. 1970
> --date of Nie, Norman H., et al, *Statistical Package for the Social
> Sciences*, first edition, date given in second edition cited below.
>
> . Release 6: c. 1975
> --date of the "maroon manual", Nie, Norman H., et al, *Statistical
> Package for the Social Sciences* 2nd edition.
>
> . Release 9: c. 1981
> --date of Hull, C. Hadlai, and Norman H. Nie, *SPSS Update 7-9*
>
> Some releases may have been available for Unix, as well:
> "There was also a version 6 for 'mainframes' (Included in there are
> different 'flavours of UNIX )"
> --Lemon, John S.; thread cited, Mon, 13 Aug 2007 <21:03:48 +0100>)
>
>
> * Then came SPSSX for the mainframe, apparently a conscious word-play
> on "SPSS 10"; cf. Mac OSX. SPSSX was a major rewrite, adding recent
> features such as MATCH FILES.
>
> . SPSSX (aka SPSSX release 1): c. 1983 (SPSS, Inc., *User's Guide SPSSX*)
>
> . SPSSX release 2: c. 1986
> -- from printed copy of electronic guide to new features); see also
> Mark A. Davenport; thread cited, Mon, 13 Aug 2007 <17:00:10 -0400>
>
> . SPSSX release 3: c. 1988
> -- (same posting)
>
> . SPSSX release 4: c. 1990
> "Wasn't there a mainframe version of spss that came out in either the
> late 80's or really early 90's that was called 4 or 4.1?"
> --Gene Maguin; thread cited, Mon, 13 Aug 2007 <15:57:54 -0400>;
> "There was indeed the manual [Gene] describes. The
> syntax described within was for "IBM PC, PS/2, and compatible computer
> running O/2, Apple Macintosh computers, workstations, minicomputers, and
> larger systems under UNIX and VAX/VMS."
> --Necia A. Black; thread cited, Mon, 13 Aug 2007 <17:04:59 -0400>
>
>
> * SPSS for Windows release 5 followed; that's the series of releases
> we're currently in, with SPSS 15 the latest and SPSS 16 due out soon.
> Notice that this continues the series of releases beginning with SPSSX
> [release 1].
> --Oliver, Richard; thread cited, Mon, 13 Aug 2007 <14:16:39 -0500>;
> "I believe SPSS 5.0 for Windows was the first release for Microsoft
> Windows featuring a graphical user interface. The releases that
> followed included: 6.0, 6.1, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 9.0, 10.0, 10.1, 11.0,
> 11.5, 12.0, 13.0, 14.0, 15.0"
> --Jason Burke; thread cited, Tue, 14 Aug 2007 <17:28:52 +1000>
>
> ...............
> In addition, there was SPSS-PC, a separate program with considerably
> different (and cut-down) features and syntax, and a separate series of
> release numbers.
>
> . "SPSS/PC+ had an independent version numbering system that stopped
> somewhere around 5."
> --Oliver, Richard; thread cited, Mon, 13 Aug 2007 <15:16:28 -0500>
>
> . "I have SPSS/PC+ diskettes dated 22 Jan 92.  These are labeled
> V4.0.1" - Victor Kogler, "", posting to SPSSX-L Mon, 13 Aug 2007
> <12:45:40 -0700>.
>
>

[Richard Ristow]

At 04:20 PM 8/25/2007, Art Kendall wrote:

>Surprisingly, SPSS-X ran on myVAXStation 3100 which have a smaller
>systems box than a PC!

Sure. Contrary to popular belief :-P , one could run serious programs
on the Old Iron. A clean design would take you far, and SPSS's was a
pretty clean design.

SPSS's running the data transformations in parallel with the
statistical procedures was a nice touch; in the days when I/O events
and storage were both expensive, it was a major advantage over SAS as
then was. (SAS might use three data passes where SPSS, used with care,
could go with one.)

CPU speed and main-memory size and speed have improved many-fold, but
the well-programmed older SPSS could work with the older sizes
remarkably well. What couldn't be changed was the maximum size for data
files. In 1975, the practical limit was about 30 megabytes, the
approximate capacity of a 2400' magnetic tape @1600 BPI. Limited
scratch disk space and the high cost of I/O made for a much lower
realistic maximum.

In SPSS for Windows, I wonder what proportion of the application code
supports SPSS proper, and what proportion supports the menuing system?

-Ever onward,
  Richard

[Peck, Jon]

I can't tell you the whole list, but around that time SPSS was running on 23 different Unix systems.  We even had a dual mode Pyramid system that ran both BSD and AT&T System V at the same time.

The version that ran on the PC was SPSS/PC+, which stemmed from an older and smaller SPSS architecture that would fit on a small PC.  The original SPSS/PC, which came out just before the IBM/AT, was targeted for a system with 320KB of memory: the 256KB you could get built-in plus a 64K expansion card.

I wrote an article around 1985 called "Fitting Large Software on Small Machines", and the editor commissioned an illustration showing six elephants squeezed into a VW Beetle.  I still have the original on my office wall.

From the nostalgia archives,
Jon Peck

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Richard Ristow
Sent: Saturday, August 25, 2007 2:40 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [SPSSX-L] Platforms that SPSS-X ran on in 1988

At 09:42 AM 8/25/2007, Art Kendall wrote:

>Is there documentation somewhere about what platforms (brand of
>machine, operating system) SPSS-X ran on in 1988?

Probably SPSSX release 3 for "mainframe" (IBM OS/360 and its
successors, and possibly VM-370/CMS); probably also available on
Digital Equipment Corporation's VMS for VAX, possibly also for Unix

Release 4, c. 1990, was described as running on "IBM PC, PS/2, and
compatible computer running O/2, Apple Macintosh computers,
workstations, minicomputers, and larger systems under UNIX and
VAX/VMS." [I've seen no direct information whether this applies to
release 3]
--Necia A. Black; "Re: Suggest: List of SPSS releases, with dates";
SPSSX-L posting, Mon, 13 Aug 2007 <17:04:59 -0400>


It is likely that some version of SPSS-PC was also available.



=====================
For details, possibly 'too much information,' see the entirety of
recent thread "Suggest: List of SPSS releases, with dates", Mon, 13 Aug
2007 <15:06:04 -0400> ff. (Special thanks to Richard Oliver of SPSS,
Inc.)

If I understand Richard Oliver and others correctly, SPSS releases were


* SPSS 1-9 for the "mainframe" (IBM OS/360 and its successors, and
possibly VM-370/CMS, possibly Unix.) Approximate release dates:

. Release ?: c. 1970
--date of Nie, Norman H., et al, *Statistical Package for the Social
Sciences*, first edition, date given in second edition cited below.

. Release 6: c. 1975
--date of the "maroon manual", Nie, Norman H., et al, *Statistical
Package for the Social Sciences* 2nd edition.

. Release 9: c. 1981
--date of Hull, C. Hadlai, and Norman H. Nie, *SPSS Update 7-9*

Some releases may have been available for Unix, as well:
"There was also a version 6 for 'mainframes' (Included in there are
different 'flavours of UNIX )"
--Lemon, John S.; thread cited, Mon, 13 Aug 2007 <21:03:48 +0100>)


* Then came SPSSX for the mainframe, apparently a conscious word-play
on "SPSS 10"; cf. Mac OSX. SPSSX was a major rewrite, adding recent
features such as MATCH FILES.

. SPSSX (aka SPSSX release 1): c. 1983 (SPSS, Inc., *User's Guide
SPSSX*)

. SPSSX release 2: c. 1986
-- from printed copy of electronic guide to new features); see also
Mark A. Davenport; thread cited, Mon, 13 Aug 2007 <17:00:10 -0400>

. SPSSX release 3: c. 1988
-- (same posting)

. SPSSX release 4: c. 1990
"Wasn't there a mainframe version of spss that came out in either the
late 80's or really early 90's that was called 4 or 4.1?"
--Gene Maguin; thread cited, Mon, 13 Aug 2007 <15:57:54 -0400>;
"There was indeed the manual [Gene] describes. The
syntax described within was for "IBM PC, PS/2, and compatible computer
running O/2, Apple Macintosh computers, workstations, minicomputers,
and
larger systems under UNIX and VAX/VMS."
--Necia A. Black; thread cited, Mon, 13 Aug 2007 <17:04:59 -0400>


* SPSS for Windows release 5 followed; that's the series of releases
we're currently in, with SPSS 15 the latest and SPSS 16 due out soon.
Notice that this continues the series of releases beginning with SPSSX
[release 1].
--Oliver, Richard; thread cited, Mon, 13 Aug 2007 <14:16:39 -0500>;
"I believe SPSS 5.0 for Windows was the first release for Microsoft
Windows featuring a graphical user interface. The releases that
followed included: 6.0, 6.1, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 9.0, 10.0, 10.1, 11.0,
11.5, 12.0, 13.0, 14.0, 15.0"
--Jason Burke; thread cited, Tue, 14 Aug 2007 <17:28:52 +1000>

...............
In addition, there was SPSS-PC, a separate program with considerably
different (and cut-down) features and syntax, and a separate series of
release numbers.

. "SPSS/PC+ had an independent version numbering system that stopped
somewhere around 5."
--Oliver, Richard; thread cited, Mon, 13 Aug 2007 <15:16:28 -0500>

. "I have SPSS/PC+ diskettes dated 22 Jan 92.  These are labeled
V4.0.1" - Victor Kogler, "", posting to SPSSX-L Mon, 13 Aug 2007
<12:45:40 -0700>.