SPSSX Discussion

Programmatic manipulation of charts?

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Simon Palmer-4

Programmatic manipulation of charts?

Hi all,

Is there a programmatic way to manipulate charts as one would manually
do with the Chart Editor? My specific problem is to do with data
labels in a pie chart, but I'm more interested in the problem as a
whole. I guess I'm asking if there is an API to SPSS chart objects. It
seems like there *should* be way of bypassing the Chart Editor, but
neither python scripting nor the GPL syntax seems to have anything
remotely related (although I admit to being a newbie with both of
these).

Can anyone tell me if this is possible, and if so point me in the
right direction?

Thanks in anticipation,
Simon

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ViAnn Beadle

Re: Programmatic manipulation of charts?

Both templates and GPL provide "some" control over labels but you'd have to
be more specific as to what you want.

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
Simon Palmer
Sent: Monday, December 01, 2008 8:13 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Programmatic manipulation of charts?

Hi all,

Is there a programmatic way to manipulate charts as one would manually
do with the Chart Editor? My specific problem is to do with data
labels in a pie chart, but I'm more interested in the problem as a
whole. I guess I'm asking if there is an API to SPSS chart objects. It
seems like there *should* be way of bypassing the Chart Editor, but
neither python scripting nor the GPL syntax seems to have anything
remotely related (although I admit to being a newbie with both of
these).

Can anyone tell me if this is possible, and if so point me in the
right direction?

Thanks in anticipation,
Simon

=====================
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Simon Palmer-4

Re: Programmatic manipulation of charts?

Hi ViAnn,

> Both templates and GPL provide "some" control over labels but you'd
> have to
> be more specific as to what you want.

It's data labels in particular that are problematic. I have to
generate a large number of (horrible!) pie charts that need to have
data labels in or near their segments. I have tried templating but it
seems for charts with several little-endorsed values I have to
compromise between not showing all the labels or having them obscure
each other. Templating doesn't seem apply to label padding either, but
that is a minor concern. I can't see anything in GPL that lets me do
anything with data labels, let alone algorithmically specify co-
ordinates that can be set dynamically. On the other hand it looks like
there has been a substantial amount of thought behind the GPL so it
wouldn't surprise me if it was just a lack of understanding on my part.

What I thought might be possible was post-processing of the chart
object, presumably with python scripting. My rough plan was to write
a script that turned on the labels for the pie chart then looped
through a process of checking to see if each data label object
overlapped any other one, and if so keep moving it until it didn't.
But it looks like the only way to manipulate a chart after it has been
produced is via the Chart Editor.

Thanks for your help,
Simon

=====================
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Albert-Jan Roskam

Re: Programmatic manipulation of charts?

In reply to this post by Simon Palmer-4

Hi,

I haven't tried it yet myself, but I know that charts and graphs are of much better quality (read: suitable for publications) if you use R. You could install the R plugin for SPSS, and use an appropriate R module.

Cheers!!
Albert-Jan

--- On Tue, 12/2/08, Simon Palmer <[hidden email]> wrote:

> From: Simon Palmer <[hidden email]>
> Subject: Programmatic manipulation of charts?
> To: [hidden email]
> Date: Tuesday, December 2, 2008, 4:12 AM
> Hi all,
>
> Is there a programmatic way to manipulate charts as one
> would manually
> do with the Chart Editor? My specific problem is to do with
> data
> labels in a pie chart, but I'm more interested in the
> problem as a
> whole. I guess I'm asking if there is an API to SPSS
> chart objects. It
> seems like there *should* be way of bypassing the Chart
> Editor, but
> neither python scripting nor the GPL syntax seems to have
> anything
> remotely related (although I admit to being a newbie with
> both of
> these).
>
> Can anyone tell me if this is possible, and if so point me
> in the
> right direction?
>
> Thanks in anticipation,
> Simon
>
> =====================
> 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

ViAnn Beadle

Re: Programmatic manipulation of charts?

In reply to this post by Simon Palmer-4

AFAIK, there is no automatic fitting algorithm for label position. GPL does
allow you to lump really small counts together into a general other
category. The label() function in GPL provides labels for almost anything
you want and can be named multiple times on the ELEMENT statement. But
you'll still have the overlapping problem. The internal representation of
the chart is XML (called vizML). You can export the vizML from the chart
editor and play with it outside of the context of the chart editor. The
GGRAPH command can be used to test rendering within SPSS. SPSS "might" still
license an integrated graphics package based upon the graphics engine used
within SPSS. It is a java based development environment that is used for
direct chart generation and manipulation from data marts and is completely
independent. Talk to SPSS support for more info.

-----Original Message-----
From: Simon Palmer [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2008 12:18 AM
To: ViAnn Beadle
Cc: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: Programmatic manipulation of charts?

Hi ViAnn,

> Both templates and GPL provide "some" control over labels but you'd
> have to
> be more specific as to what you want.

It's data labels in particular that are problematic. I have to
generate a large number of (horrible!) pie charts that need to have
data labels in or near their segments. I have tried templating but it
seems for charts with several little-endorsed values I have to
compromise between not showing all the labels or having them obscure
each other. Templating doesn't seem apply to label padding either, but
that is a minor concern. I can't see anything in GPL that lets me do
anything with data labels, let alone algorithmically specify co-
ordinates that can be set dynamically. On the other hand it looks like
there has been a substantial amount of thought behind the GPL so it
wouldn't surprise me if it was just a lack of understanding on my part.

What I thought might be possible was post-processing of the chart
object, presumably with python scripting. My rough plan was to write
a script that turned on the labels for the pie chart then looped
through a process of checking to see if each data label object
overlapped any other one, and if so keep moving it until it didn't.
But it looks like the only way to manipulate a chart after it has been
produced is via the Chart Editor.

Thanks for your help,
Simon

=====================
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Peck, Jon

Re: Programmatic manipulation of charts?

To elaborate a bit further, it is possible to manipulate the labels programmatically, but it will take more than two lines of code.

The chart is represented internally as an XML specification, and there are apis in the Python SpssClient module, GetXML and SetXML that allow you to read and change it. The schema is installed with SPSS. So you could write a program to read and parse the XML and manipulate the labels. If you do File>Export Chart XML from the Chart Editor, you can see what it looks like.

Then, for example, you could programmatically remove labels for categories below some threshold value, remove fractional values to use less space, reduce point sizes, or make other changes that might help the layout.

Python has excellent support for manipulating XML - see the ElementTree module if you are interested.

You might find it easier to prepare an XML template using the new VizDesigner product, which gives greater control over details of the charts, and then use that template within SPSS Statistics to generate your charts. You can read about VizDesigner at http://www.spss.com/vizdesigner/

HTH,
Jon Peck

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of ViAnn Beadle
Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2008 8:29 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [SPSSX-L] Programmatic manipulation of charts?

AFAIK, there is no automatic fitting algorithm for label position. GPL does
allow you to lump really small counts together into a general other
category. The label() function in GPL provides labels for almost anything
you want and can be named multiple times on the ELEMENT statement. But
you'll still have the overlapping problem. The internal representation of
the chart is XML (called vizML). You can export the vizML from the chart
editor and play with it outside of the context of the chart editor. The
GGRAPH command can be used to test rendering within SPSS. SPSS "might" still
license an integrated graphics package based upon the graphics engine used
within SPSS. It is a java based development environment that is used for
direct chart generation and manipulation from data marts and is completely
independent. Talk to SPSS support for more info.

-----Original Message-----
From: Simon Palmer [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2008 12:18 AM
To: ViAnn Beadle
Cc: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: Programmatic manipulation of charts?

Hi ViAnn,

> Both templates and GPL provide "some" control over labels but you'd
> have to
> be more specific as to what you want.

It's data labels in particular that are problematic. I have to
generate a large number of (horrible!) pie charts that need to have
data labels in or near their segments. I have tried templating but it
seems for charts with several little-endorsed values I have to
compromise between not showing all the labels or having them obscure
each other. Templating doesn't seem apply to label padding either, but
that is a minor concern. I can't see anything in GPL that lets me do
anything with data labels, let alone algorithmically specify co-
ordinates that can be set dynamically. On the other hand it looks like
there has been a substantial amount of thought behind the GPL so it
wouldn't surprise me if it was just a lack of understanding on my part.

What I thought might be possible was post-processing of the chart
object, presumably with python scripting. My rough plan was to write
a script that turned on the labels for the pie chart then looped
through a process of checking to see if each data label object
overlapped any other one, and if so keep moving it until it didn't.
But it looks like the only way to manipulate a chart after it has been
produced is via the Chart Editor.

Thanks for your help,
Simon

=====================
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command. To leave the list, send the command
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Simon Palmer-4

Re: Programmatic manipulation of charts?

Thanks everyone for your advice. I have certainly learnt a bit!

Jon wrote:

> The chart is represented internally as an XML specification, and
> there are apis in the Python SpssClient module, GetXML and SetXML
> that allow you to read and change it.

I have had some success in exporting and manipulating the XML, but I
am a little perplexed as to the very last bit. I seem to be
successfully setting my revised XML in the ChartItem - ie the object
returned by GetSpecificType() - but I don't seem to be able to do
anything with it once it's set. Changing the chart item XML doesn't
seem to have any direct affect on the visible graph object (this
doesn't really surprise me because I suspect it can't work analogously
to, say, a pivot table) but it also seems that any exported chart is
rendered as per the original (again not particularly surprising, but
all of this just makes me wonder what's the point of being able to set
the ChartItem is and what I am missing...)

If anyone can enlighten me I'd be grateful, but if not I might have to
look at the R plugin instead.

Cheers,
Simon

=====================
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ViAnn Beadle

Re: Programmatic manipulation of charts?

Something has to force the chart to re-render. What you're seeing is the
cached image of the chart. As far as I know, the only ways to force it to
re-render is to use the GGRAPH command to read the vizML using the VIZMLFILE
keyword for the GRAPHSPEC subcommand.

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
Simon Palmer
Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2008 4:49 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: Programmatic manipulation of charts?

Thanks everyone for your advice. I have certainly learnt a bit!

Jon wrote:

> The chart is represented internally as an XML specification, and
> there are apis in the Python SpssClient module, GetXML and SetXML
> that allow you to read and change it.

I have had some success in exporting and manipulating the XML, but I
am a little perplexed as to the very last bit. I seem to be
successfully setting my revised XML in the ChartItem - ie the object
returned by GetSpecificType() - but I don't seem to be able to do
anything with it once it's set. Changing the chart item XML doesn't
seem to have any direct affect on the visible graph object (this
doesn't really surprise me because I suspect it can't work analogously
to, say, a pivot table) but it also seems that any exported chart is
rendered as per the original (again not particularly surprising, but
all of this just makes me wonder what's the point of being able to set
the ChartItem is and what I am missing...)

If anyone can enlighten me I'd be grateful, but if not I might have to
look at the R plugin instead.

Cheers,
Simon

=====================
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Simon Palmer-4

Re: Programmatic manipulation of charts?

Hi ViAnn,

> Something has to force the chart to re-render.
That's what I figured.

> What you're seeing is the
> cached image of the chart. As far as I know, the only ways to force
> it to
> re-render is to use the GGRAPH command to read the vizML using the
> VIZMLFILE
> keyword for the GRAPHSPEC subcommand.
OK, I'll give it a go.

Thanks,
Simon

=====================
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Peck, Jon

Re: Programmatic manipulation of charts?

That's not what I would expect. Changing the xml in the Viewer object should change the chart. Unfortunately the chart does not get re-rendered after the xml is changed. We have an open bug on that and hope to be able to address this in a maintenance release. You could probably take the modified xml and run another GGRAPH command passing that xml as input (instead of the usual GPL), but that's a bit messy.

Regards,
Jon Peck

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Simon Palmer
Sent: woensdag 3 december 2008 17:20
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [SPSSX-L] Programmatic manipulation of charts?

Hi ViAnn,

> Something has to force the chart to re-render.
That's what I figured.

> What you're seeing is the
> cached image of the chart. As far as I know, the only ways to force
> it to
> re-render is to use the GGRAPH command to read the vizML using the
> VIZMLFILE
> keyword for the GRAPHSPEC subcommand.
OK, I'll give it a go.

Thanks,
Simon

=====================
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=====================
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Simon Palmer-4

Re: Programmatic manipulation of charts?

Hi Jon

You wrote,

> That's not what I would expect. Changing the xml in the Viewer
> object should change the chart. Unfortunately the chart does not
> get re-rendered after the xml is changed. We have an open bug on
> that and hope to be able to address this in a maintenance release.
Perhaps I was a bit unclear. To be very specific, the relevant bits of
my actual code is:

doc = fromstring(OutputItem.GetXML())

[manipulate the xml with elemtree routines]

ChartItem = OutputItem.GetSpecificType()
ChartItem.SetXML(tostring(doc))
print OutputItem.GetXML()
OutputItem.ExportToImage('test.jpg',SpssClient.ChartExportFormat.jpg)

The print statement in the second last line gives me the updated XML,
so everything up to the SetXML seems okay. If I understand you
correctly, my chart not getting re-rendered in the viewer is a bug,
but test.jpg should appear with the updated version? If so, presumably
the chart must be re-rendered on export? Regardless, my test.jpg looks
just like the unmodified version in the Output Viewer. :-(

Ah well, I've waited 15 years, guess I can wait a bit longer for a
maintenance release and see what happens.

Cheers,
Simon

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Peck, Jon

Re: Programmatic manipulation of charts?

The problem is that what you see in the Viewer is a cached presentation of the XML. We have to clear the cache in order to force a re-render when the xml has changed. Currently that step is missing in the SetXML api. It's too late for that fix to go into the 17.0.1 maintenance release, so it will take a bit longer for the fix to be available. The export will use the cached information if present, so it, too, will be stale.

But, there is a workaround that could be used in the short run. A saved spv file does not contain the cache, so closing and reopening the file before exporting should cause the updated image to render and export correctly.

HTH,
Jon Peck

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Simon Palmer
Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2008 5:14 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [SPSSX-L] Programmatic manipulation of charts?

Hi Jon

You wrote,

> That's not what I would expect. Changing the xml in the Viewer
> object should change the chart. Unfortunately the chart does not
> get re-rendered after the xml is changed. We have an open bug on
> that and hope to be able to address this in a maintenance release.
Perhaps I was a bit unclear. To be very specific, the relevant bits of
my actual code is:

doc = fromstring(OutputItem.GetXML())

[manipulate the xml with elemtree routines]

ChartItem = OutputItem.GetSpecificType()
ChartItem.SetXML(tostring(doc))
print OutputItem.GetXML()
OutputItem.ExportToImage('test.jpg',SpssClient.ChartExportFormat.jpg)

The print statement in the second last line gives me the updated XML,
so everything up to the SetXML seems okay. If I understand you
correctly, my chart not getting re-rendered in the viewer is a bug,
but test.jpg should appear with the updated version? If so, presumably
the chart must be re-rendered on export? Regardless, my test.jpg looks
just like the unmodified version in the Output Viewer. :-(

Ah well, I've waited 15 years, guess I can wait a bit longer for a
maintenance release and see what happens.

Cheers,
Simon

=====================
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Roberts, Michael

How to set SPSS default monitor with dual monitor setup

Hi all,

I have a dual monitor setup, and am trying to get SPSS to stay on the
one monitor that I drag the data editor to. However, when I run any
syntax, the data returns to the other one. This only happens with SPSS.
All my other apps (Office '07) obediently stay where they are put
regardless of any manipulations within them. Can anyone suggest whether
I need to adjust a setting within SPSS or Win (XP SP3), or whether I am
just going to have to live with this?

Machine: WinXP prof., SP3, 3.4 ghz, 2.0gb, 80gb, SPSS17.0

TIA

Mike

=====================
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Jo Gulstad

Re: How to set SPSS default monitor with dual monitor setup

Hi Michael,

I have the same problem. While I don't have a solution, I can offer the following if it helps someone else solve this: I can use both screens with Microsoft Word, but cannot move spreadsheets from one monitor to the other in Microsoft Excel, either.

Jo Gulstad, Psy.D.
Research Analyst
Minnesota Department of Corrections
1450 Energy Park Drive, Suite 200
St Paul, MN 55108
651.361.7383

>>> "Roberts, Michael" <[hidden email]> 12/5/2008 9:13 AM >>>
Hi all,

I have a dual monitor setup, and am trying to get SPSS to stay on the
one monitor that I drag the data editor to. However, when I run any
syntax, the data returns to the other one. This only happens with SPSS.
All my other apps (Office '07) obediently stay where they are put
regardless of any manipulations within them. Can anyone suggest whether
I need to adjust a setting within SPSS or Win (XP SP3), or whether I am
just going to have to live with this?

Machine: WinXP prof., SP3, 3.4 ghz, 2.0gb, 80gb, SPSS17.0

TIA

Mike

=====================
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====================To manage your subscription to SPSSX-L, send a message to
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Albert-Jan Roskam

Re: How to set SPSS default monitor with dual monitor setup

Hi Michael,

I was thinking of doing something similar: have the input (.sps) on one screen and the output (.spo) on the other. So you say that's a no go, too?

Cheers!!
Albert-Jan

--- On Fri, 12/5/08, Jo Gulstad <[hidden email]> wrote:

> From: Jo Gulstad <[hidden email]>
> Subject: Re: How to set SPSS default monitor with dual monitor setup
> To: [hidden email]
> Date: Friday, December 5, 2008, 4:22 PM
> Hi Michael,
>
> I have the same problem. While I don't have a solution,
> I can offer the following if it helps someone else solve
> this: I can use both screens with Microsoft Word, but cannot
> move spreadsheets from one monitor to the other in Microsoft
> Excel, either.
>
> Jo Gulstad, Psy.D.
> Research Analyst
> Minnesota Department of Corrections
> 1450 Energy Park Drive, Suite 200
> St Paul, MN 55108
> 651.361.7383
>
>
> >>> "Roberts, Michael"
> <[hidden email]> 12/5/2008 9:13 AM
> >>>
> Hi all,
>
> I have a dual monitor setup, and am trying to get SPSS to
> stay on the
> one monitor that I drag the data editor to. However, when I
> run any
> syntax, the data returns to the other one. This only
> happens with SPSS.
> All my other apps (Office '07) obediently stay where
> they are put
> regardless of any manipulations within them. Can anyone
> suggest whether
> I need to adjust a setting within SPSS or Win (XP SP3), or
> whether I am
> just going to have to live with this?
>
> Machine: WinXP prof., SP3, 3.4 ghz, 2.0gb, 80gb, SPSS17.0
>
> TIA
>
> Mike
>
> =====================
> 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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> command
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>
> ====================To manage your subscription to SPSSX-L,
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Peck, Jon

Re: How to set SPSS default monitor with dual monitor setup

I use a dual monitor system all the time. Most software, though, including SPSS, sees this as one big screen. Windows can slide between screens with no problem. But when software wants to center or offset a window from the left side, the window may not go where you expect. Every application I use shows some odd window placement. However, in my experience, once you put a window where you want it in SPSS, it will stay there, including minimization and restore operations.

Although video driver support for dual monitors varies a lot from one driver to another, one key thing is to persuade the driver to extend the desktop across both monitors. The control for that would be on the Display Properties Settings tab, but the specific location depends on the driver.

HTH,
Jon Peck

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Albert-jan Roskam
Sent: Saturday, December 06, 2008 1:54 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [SPSSX-L] How to set SPSS default monitor with dual monitor setup

Hi Michael,

I was thinking of doing something similar: have the input (.sps) on one screen and the output (.spo) on the other. So you say that's a no go, too?

Cheers!!
Albert-Jan

--- On Fri, 12/5/08, Jo Gulstad <[hidden email]> wrote:

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Albert-Jan Roskam

Re: Programmatic manipulation of charts?

In reply to this post by Simon Palmer-4

Hi,

I just found this link on the Python listserv. At first glance, the charts look quite neat, although I don't like 3d charts if a 3rd dimension is not part of the data: http://pygooglechart.slowchop.com/

Cheers!!
Albert-Jan

--- On Thu, 12/4/08, Peck, Jon <[hidden email]> wrote:

> From: Peck, Jon <[hidden email]>
> Subject: Re: Programmatic manipulation of charts?
> To: [hidden email]
> Date: Thursday, December 4, 2008, 3:15 PM
> That's not what I would expect. Changing the xml in the
> Viewer object should change the chart. Unfortunately the
> chart does not get re-rendered after the xml is changed. We
> have an open bug on that and hope to be able to address this
> in a maintenance release. You could probably take the
> modified xml and run another GGRAPH command passing that xml
> as input (instead of the usual GPL), but that's a bit
> messy.
>
> Regards,
> Jon Peck
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]]
> On Behalf Of Simon Palmer
> Sent: woensdag 3 december 2008 17:20
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: [SPSSX-L] Programmatic manipulation of charts?
>
> Hi ViAnn,
>
> > Something has to force the chart to re-render.
> That's what I figured.
>
> > What you're seeing is the
> > cached image of the chart. As far as I know, the only
> ways to force
> > it to
> > re-render is to use the GGRAPH command to read the
> vizML using the
> > VIZMLFILE
> > keyword for the GRAPHSPEC subcommand.
> OK, I'll give it a go.
>
> Thanks,
> Simon
>
> =====================
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>
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Dan Meir

Re: How to set SPSS default monitor with dual monitor setup

In reply to this post by Roberts, Michael

Actually, I have been having the same issue.

In my case, using an extended desktop is not as desirable as using the dual
monitor as my screens are of very different sizes. (Windows apps can
sometimes place things in unreachable/hidden places).

The behavior is somewhat annoying but you can just move the window by
selecting the "Restore Down" button. The only thing is every new SPSS
window will open up in the default monitor screen. Also, if you restore a
previous version of the same file you're using, then the data window will
minimize from your desired screen and pop up on the other screen.

Anyone have any suggestions for us dual-monitor SPSS users?

On Sat, 6 Dec 2008 08:46:54 -0600, Peck, Jon <[hidden email]> wrote:

>I use a dual monitor system all the time. Most software, though, including
SPSS, sees this as one big screen. Windows can slide between screens with
no problem. But when software wants to center or offset a window from the
left side, the window may not go where you expect. Every application I use
shows some odd window placement. However, in my experience, once you put a
window where you want it in SPSS, it will stay there, including minimization
and restore operations.
>
>Although video driver support for dual monitors varies a lot from one
driver to another, one key thing is to persuade the driver to extend the
desktop across both monitors. The control for that would be on the Display
Properties Settings tab, but the specific location depends on the driver.
>
>HTH,
>Jon Peck
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
Albert-jan Roskam
>Sent: Saturday, December 06, 2008 1:54 AM
>To: [hidden email]
>Subject: Re: [SPSSX-L] How to set SPSS default monitor with dual monitor setup
>
>Hi Michael,
>
>I was thinking of doing something similar: have the input (.sps) on one
screen and the output (.spo) on the other. So you say that's a no go, too?

>
>Cheers!!
>Albert-Jan
>
>
>--- On Fri, 12/5/08, Jo Gulstad <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> From: Jo Gulstad <[hidden email]>
>> Subject: Re: How to set SPSS default monitor with dual monitor setup
>> To: [hidden email]
>> Date: Friday, December 5, 2008, 4:22 PM
>> Hi Michael,
>>
>> I have the same problem. While I don't have a solution,
>> I can offer the following if it helps someone else solve
>> this: I can use both screens with Microsoft Word, but cannot
>> move spreadsheets from one monitor to the other in Microsoft
>> Excel, either.
>>
>> Jo Gulstad, Psy.D.
>> Research Analyst
>> Minnesota Department of Corrections
>> 1450 Energy Park Drive, Suite 200
>> St Paul, MN 55108
>> 651.361.7383
>>
>>
>> >>> "Roberts, Michael"
>> <[hidden email]> 12/5/2008 9:13 AM
>> >>>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> I have a dual monitor setup, and am trying to get SPSS to
>> stay on the
>> one monitor that I drag the data editor to. However, when I
>> run any
>> syntax, the data returns to the other one. This only
>> happens with SPSS.
>> All my other apps (Office '07) obediently stay where
>> they are put
>> regardless of any manipulations within them. Can anyone
>> suggest whether
>> I need to adjust a setting within SPSS or Win (XP SP3), or
>> whether I am
>> just going to have to live with this?
>>
>> Machine: WinXP prof., SP3, 3.4 ghz, 2.0gb, 80gb, SPSS17.0
>>
>> TIA
>>
>> Mike
>>
>> =====================
>> 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
>>
>> ====================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
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>> command
>> INFO REFCARD
>
>=====================
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>[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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>=====================
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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
>INFO REFCARD

Catherine Kubitschek

Re: How to set SPSS default monitor with dual monitor setup

For what it's worth, I'm using 2 different sized monitors with the desktop
extended and the resolution on the two monitors set differently so something
"looks" the same size to my eyes.

I leave the output and data windows where they open on the primary monitor
but I can drag the input/syntax window onto the second monitor and it will
stay there, sometimes even reopening in the same place.

Data windows seem to have their own internal rules for opening that looks
cascade-like.

Catherine

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Dan
Meir
Sent: Monday, December 08, 2008 12:57 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: How to set SPSS default monitor with dual monitor setup

Actually, I have been having the same issue.

In my case, using an extended desktop is not as desirable as using the dual
monitor as my screens are of very different sizes. (Windows apps can
sometimes place things in unreachable/hidden places).

The behavior is somewhat annoying but you can just move the window by
selecting the "Restore Down" button. The only thing is every new SPSS
window will open up in the default monitor screen. Also, if you restore a
previous version of the same file you're using, then the data window will
minimize from your desired screen and pop up on the other screen.

Anyone have any suggestions for us dual-monitor SPSS users?

On Sat, 6 Dec 2008 08:46:54 -0600, Peck, Jon <[hidden email]> wrote:

>I use a dual monitor system all the time. Most software, though, including
SPSS, sees this as one big screen. Windows can slide between screens with
no problem. But when software wants to center or offset a window from the
left side, the window may not go where you expect. Every application I use
shows some odd window placement. However, in my experience, once you put a
window where you want it in SPSS, it will stay there, including minimization
and restore operations.
>
>Although video driver support for dual monitors varies a lot from one
driver to another, one key thing is to persuade the driver to extend the
desktop across both monitors. The control for that would be on the Display
Properties Settings tab, but the specific location depends on the driver.
>
>HTH,
>Jon Peck
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
Albert-jan Roskam
>Sent: Saturday, December 06, 2008 1:54 AM
>To: [hidden email]
>Subject: Re: [SPSSX-L] How to set SPSS default monitor with dual monitor
setup
>
>Hi Michael,
>
>I was thinking of doing something similar: have the input (.sps) on one
screen and the output (.spo) on the other. So you say that's a no go, too?