Python Newbie

[Brock-15]

Hi Everyone,

I am trying to start to use Python with SPSS, more specifically, the modules
we can download from the website.  I believe I have the Python
programmability extension installed correctly and have also put the
appropriate files in the right spot.

For example, I am trying to use the Create Dummies module but I have gotten
the same error with other modules.  I went through the command dialog box
and pasted the syntax, and the error I get revolves around the command name
SPSSINC and it not being recognized as a valid command name.  I have the
appropriate .py file in the my sitepackages folder of my Python 25
installation (I have 17).

This probably has been asked a million times, or is something very easy, so
I apologize, but I did a search and couldn't find any old posts based on my
search criteria.

Thanks,

Brock

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[Peck, Jon]

If you get a message like SPSSINC is not a valid command name, it means that the xml file that defines the command syntax was not read when SPSS started.  It's not a Python issue, in fact, but a potential problem with any extension command.
The rule is that the xml file included in the downloaded package must be placed in the extensions subdirectory of the SPSS installation.
Now on some systems, you might not have permission to write to that directory.  Vista is particularly nasty about that and diverts file copies in some cases to some other location.
If you want to use another directory for these files, you need to define an environment variable named
SPSS_EXTENSIONS_PATH
whose value is the name of the directory you want to use (or a list of directories).
Mine, for example, says
c:\extcommon
Microsoft makes it a little difficult to find where to define such variables.  On XP, at least, it's
Control Panel
  System
     Advanced
        Environment Variables

But the problem most people have is that they didn't copy the xml file to the ordinary extensions directory, so that's the place to start.

HTH,
Jon Peck

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Brock
Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2009 8:39 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [SPSSX-L] Python Newbie

Hi Everyone,

I am trying to start to use Python with SPSS, more specifically, the modules
we can download from the website.  I believe I have the Python
programmability extension installed correctly and have also put the
appropriate files in the right spot.

For example, I am trying to use the Create Dummies module but I have gotten
the same error with other modules.  I went through the command dialog box
and pasted the syntax, and the error I get revolves around the command name
SPSSINC and it not being recognized as a valid command name.  I have the
appropriate .py file in the my sitepackages folder of my Python 25
installation (I have 17).

This probably has been asked a million times, or is something very easy, so
I apologize, but I did a search and couldn't find any old posts based on my
search criteria.

Thanks,

Brock

=====================
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
SIGNOFF SPSSX-L
For a list of commands to manage subscriptions, send the command
INFO REFCARD

[Brock-15]

Thanks Jon!  All I didn't do was put the XML file directly into the
extensions folder.  When I unzipped the files, I put them in their own
directory inside the extensions.

Many thanks,

Brock

=====================
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