SPSSX Discussion

Re: Problems with SPSS 15? - Or is it 16?

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Steve Runfeldt

Re: Problems with SPSS 15? - Or is it 16?

Charlotte,

I just now saw your message and the responses. You say that you just
upgraded a few weeks ago. Could you be using SPSS 16 and not 15? I also
upgraded (to v.16) a few weeks ago and I have been having similar problems.
I have been working on one file for over a week and I have had to go back
and restore that file three times. I finally named it "gooddata.sps".
Yesterday morning it was missing again. I restored it and made several
copies. I wonder if when I am saving it at the end of a session, and then
quit SPSS before it is completely saved, perhaps it gets deleted.

I have also been having problems with memory when looking at output files,
and especially pivot tables. In one case I ran a Factor followed by a
Regression for six different groups. I made notes on certain results. I
saved the output file. But, I was unable to export or print the results and
SPSS crashed. When I opened the output file the next day, only one of the
six group results was there. The Factor Scores were correctly saved from
the day before, but the output file appeared to have been truncated. I
reran the Regression on the six groups and got exactly the same results - at
least they matched my hand written notes.

I have gotten no help from SPSS support. I was told that because I did not
purchase a support package they did not have to look into my problem. But
this is a new version, on the street for only a few weeks, so I would think
that they would want to know about problems like this.

I am running SPSS 16 on a new ThinkPad with tons of memory. I understand
that V16 uses Java for the reporting function. Perhaps Java is not letting
go of memory. I have resolved this by running analyses in smaller batches,
saving my data files every time I create a new variable, making copies of my
data files, and saving the output files in smaller groups as well. With the
smaller files I can export to Excel with no problem. I have a project with
about 50 variables in six categories. Instead of running Oneway on all of
them at once, I have to run six Oneway analyses (Maybe we should call it
"Sixway".)

By the way, when you export to Excel, you have to unmerge all of the cells.
SPSS output to Excel masks some data cells by merging them with other cells,
so it appears that some results are missing. You have to Select All, then
Format Cells and uncheck Merge Cells - just to see all of your results. I
don't know why SPSS insists on merging cells that should not be merged.

I would love to hear back from SPSS on some of this.

Good luck.

Steve

Steve Runfeldt
Senior Account Executive/ Quantitative Research
Schwartz Consulting Partners
5027 W. Laurel Street
Tampa, FL 33607
813-207-0332 X 233 (work)
813-431-1840 (mobile)
[hidden email]
http://schwartzconsulting.com/

From: "Charlotte" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: 06 November, 2007 4:41 PM
Subject: Problems with SPSS 15?

> Hi there,
>
> I was just wondering if anybody is experiencing any problems (bugs?)
> with SPSS 15? I have been using it for a few weeks now and keep
> experiencing a situation in which it suddenly won't open files. If I
> then make a second attempt to open the file, it opens, but as an
> 'unknown' file - i.e. the name is removed.
>
> Furthermore, on two separate occasions I have had two files
> overwritten with two completely different files! Luckily I had the
> files backed up elsewhere.
>
> Anyone else experiencing things like this? I'm regretting having
> upgraded to version 15!
>
> Thanks,
>
> Charlotte

Bethany Cockburn

Re: Problems with SPSS 15? - Or is it 16?

In case this is helpful at all: Our department's computer support person
said that SPSS Base seems to have an unusual way of "saving" files. Each
time a file is saved, it actually creates a new file and deletes the old
one. He said sometimes (and once while he was watching) the old file gets
deleted before the new one is created, finished saving, or finished being
re-named. This may be what is causing the problems you all are seeing.
Several times in SPSS 12 AND SPSS 15 we have had the entire data file and
the syntax files completely deleted or emptied of the data or syntax. I've
encouraged our staff to think of SPSS Base as Russian roulette and to take
precautions as if they could lose a file that day.
*sigh*
Bethany

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
Steve Runfeldt
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 9:46 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: Problems with SPSS 15? - Or is it 16?

Charlotte,

I just now saw your message and the responses. You say that you just
upgraded a few weeks ago. Could you be using SPSS 16 and not 15? I also
upgraded (to v.16) a few weeks ago and I have been having similar problems.
I have been working on one file for over a week and I have had to go back
and restore that file three times. I finally named it "gooddata.sps".
Yesterday morning it was missing again. I restored it and made several
copies. I wonder if when I am saving it at the end of a session, and then
quit SPSS before it is completely saved, perhaps it gets deleted.

I have also been having problems with memory when looking at output files,
and especially pivot tables. In one case I ran a Factor followed by a
Regression for six different groups. I made notes on certain results. I
saved the output file. But, I was unable to export or print the results and
SPSS crashed. When I opened the output file the next day, only one of the
six group results was there. The Factor Scores were correctly saved from
the day before, but the output file appeared to have been truncated. I
reran the Regression on the six groups and got exactly the same results - at
least they matched my hand written notes.

I have gotten no help from SPSS support. I was told that because I did not
purchase a support package they did not have to look into my problem. But
this is a new version, on the street for only a few weeks, so I would think
that they would want to know about problems like this.

I am running SPSS 16 on a new ThinkPad with tons of memory. I understand
that V16 uses Java for the reporting function. Perhaps Java is not letting
go of memory. I have resolved this by running analyses in smaller batches,
saving my data files every time I create a new variable, making copies of my
data files, and saving the output files in smaller groups as well. With the
smaller files I can export to Excel with no problem. I have a project with
about 50 variables in six categories. Instead of running Oneway on all of
them at once, I have to run six Oneway analyses (Maybe we should call it
"Sixway".)

By the way, when you export to Excel, you have to unmerge all of the cells.
SPSS output to Excel masks some data cells by merging them with other cells,
so it appears that some results are missing. You have to Select All, then
Format Cells and uncheck Merge Cells - just to see all of your results. I
don't know why SPSS insists on merging cells that should not be merged.

I would love to hear back from SPSS on some of this.

Good luck.

Steve

Steve Runfeldt
Senior Account Executive/ Quantitative Research
Schwartz Consulting Partners
5027 W. Laurel Street
Tampa, FL 33607
813-207-0332 X 233 (work)
813-431-1840 (mobile)
[hidden email]
http://schwartzconsulting.com/

From: "Charlotte" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: 06 November, 2007 4:41 PM
Subject: Problems with SPSS 15?

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

ViAnn Beadle

Re: Problems with SPSS 15? - Or is it 16?

In reply to this post by Steve Runfeldt

Where do you save your files? If you are running Vista and are trying to
save your files in the SPSS location, Vista is silently putting them
elsewhere into a Virtual Store location since Program Files is verboten for
anything but set-up applications to write to.

SPSS can retrieve the file using the Open dialog your more recently used
file location; but if you try to find the file using a Windows explorer
window, it won't be able to find it. The location where the file really is
depends upon your user name. It's a very long path so it's easier to find it
with the Vista search function on the start menu.

The best approach is to set the default location of saved files in
Edit>Options.

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
Steve Runfeldt
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 7:46 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: Problems with SPSS 15? - Or is it 16?

Charlotte,

I just now saw your message and the responses. You say that you just
upgraded a few weeks ago. Could you be using SPSS 16 and not 15? I also
upgraded (to v.16) a few weeks ago and I have been having similar problems.
I have been working on one file for over a week and I have had to go back
and restore that file three times. I finally named it "gooddata.sps".
Yesterday morning it was missing again. I restored it and made several
copies. I wonder if when I am saving it at the end of a session, and then
quit SPSS before it is completely saved, perhaps it gets deleted.

I have also been having problems with memory when looking at output files,
and especially pivot tables. In one case I ran a Factor followed by a
Regression for six different groups. I made notes on certain results. I
saved the output file. But, I was unable to export or print the results and
SPSS crashed. When I opened the output file the next day, only one of the
six group results was there. The Factor Scores were correctly saved from
the day before, but the output file appeared to have been truncated. I
reran the Regression on the six groups and got exactly the same results - at
least they matched my hand written notes.

I have gotten no help from SPSS support. I was told that because I did not
purchase a support package they did not have to look into my problem. But
this is a new version, on the street for only a few weeks, so I would think
that they would want to know about problems like this.

I am running SPSS 16 on a new ThinkPad with tons of memory. I understand
that V16 uses Java for the reporting function. Perhaps Java is not letting
go of memory. I have resolved this by running analyses in smaller batches,
saving my data files every time I create a new variable, making copies of my
data files, and saving the output files in smaller groups as well. With the
smaller files I can export to Excel with no problem. I have a project with
about 50 variables in six categories. Instead of running Oneway on all of
them at once, I have to run six Oneway analyses (Maybe we should call it
"Sixway".)

By the way, when you export to Excel, you have to unmerge all of the cells.
SPSS output to Excel masks some data cells by merging them with other cells,
so it appears that some results are missing. You have to Select All, then
Format Cells and uncheck Merge Cells - just to see all of your results. I
don't know why SPSS insists on merging cells that should not be merged.

I would love to hear back from SPSS on some of this.

Good luck.

Steve

Steve Runfeldt
Senior Account Executive/ Quantitative Research
Schwartz Consulting Partners
5027 W. Laurel Street
Tampa, FL 33607
813-207-0332 X 233 (work)
813-431-1840 (mobile)
[hidden email]
http://schwartzconsulting.com/

From: "Charlotte" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: 06 November, 2007 4:41 PM
Subject: Problems with SPSS 15?

Steve Runfeldt

Re: Problems with SPSS 15? - Or is it 16?

Thanks, but I am using XP Pro (avoiding Vista like the plague) and each
project has its own file folder. I have tried reopening from the Recently
Used list as well as trying to find it by browsing and searching the system.
I did manage to find it - in my system backup from about a week before.

I should say that I have been using SPSS in one version or another since
1979. It is an indispensible tool. These problems seem to just be bugs
with this new version. Work-arounds are acceptable - if not completely
satisfying.

Bethany's comments make sense to me. Can anyone from SPSS verify that the
file saving process deletes the old file before saving the new version?

If so, maybe the problem comes when I am logging off at the end of the day.
Perhaps the work-around is to save-as the current version under a new name
each day and then wait a few minutes before shutting down the SPSS system.

Thanks,

Steve

Steve Runfeldt
Senior Account Executive/ Quantitative Research
Schwartz Consulting Partners
5027 W. Laurel Street
Tampa, FL 33607
813-207-0332 X 233 (work)
813-431-1840 (mobile)
[hidden email]
http://schwartzconsulting.com/

-----Original Message-----
From: ViAnn Beadle [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 10:20 AM
To: 'Steve Runfeldt'; [hidden email]
Subject: RE: Problems with SPSS 15? - Or is it 16?

Where do you save your files? If you are running Vista and are trying to
save your files in the SPSS location, Vista is silently putting them
elsewhere into a Virtual Store location since Program Files is verboten for
anything but set-up applications to write to.

SPSS can retrieve the file using the Open dialog your more recently used
file location; but if you try to find the file using a Windows explorer
window, it won't be able to find it. The location where the file really is
depends upon your user name. It's a very long path so it's easier to find it
with the Vista search function on the start menu.

The best approach is to set the default location of saved files in
Edit>Options.

=====================
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: Problems with SPSS 15? - Or is it 16?

I've got you beat by a decade.

IIRC, SPSS does not delete a file before resaving but changes the name to
something temporary and then saves the file. File saving is generally very
quick. During the save process SPSS goes into Application busy mode and
won't will not exit unless you force it to via the task manager.

-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Runfeldt [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 8:35 AM
To: 'ViAnn Beadle'; [hidden email]
Subject: RE: Problems with SPSS 15? - Or is it 16?

Thanks, but I am using XP Pro (avoiding Vista like the plague) and each
project has its own file folder. I have tried reopening from the Recently
Used list as well as trying to find it by browsing and searching the system.
I did manage to find it - in my system backup from about a week before.

I should say that I have been using SPSS in one version or another since
1979. It is an indispensible tool. These problems seem to just be bugs
with this new version. Work-arounds are acceptable - if not completely
satisfying.

Bethany's comments make sense to me. Can anyone from SPSS verify that the
file saving process deletes the old file before saving the new version?

If so, maybe the problem comes when I am logging off at the end of the day.
Perhaps the work-around is to save-as the current version under a new name
each day and then wait a few minutes before shutting down the SPSS system.

Thanks,

Steve

Steve Runfeldt
Senior Account Executive/ Quantitative Research
Schwartz Consulting Partners
5027 W. Laurel Street
Tampa, FL 33607
813-207-0332 X 233 (work)
813-431-1840 (mobile)
[hidden email]
http://schwartzconsulting.com/

-----Original Message-----
From: ViAnn Beadle [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 10:20 AM
To: 'Steve Runfeldt'; [hidden email]
Subject: RE: Problems with SPSS 15? - Or is it 16?

Where do you save your files? If you are running Vista and are trying to
save your files in the SPSS location, Vista is silently putting them
elsewhere into a Virtual Store location since Program Files is verboten for
anything but set-up applications to write to.

SPSS can retrieve the file using the Open dialog your more recently used
file location; but if you try to find the file using a Windows explorer
window, it won't be able to find it. The location where the file really is
depends upon your user name. It's a very long path so it's easier to find it
with the Vista search function on the start menu.

The best approach is to set the default location of saved files in
Edit>Options.

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

Bethany Cockburn

Re: Problems with SPSS 15? - Or is it 16?

Sorry - to clarify my comment, SPSS is not supposed to delete the old file
before finishing saving the new one. It is on that unusual occasion that
happens that problems occur.
Bethany ;)

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
ViAnn Beadle
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 10:59 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: Problems with SPSS 15? - Or is it 16?

I've got you beat by a decade.

IIRC, SPSS does not delete a file before resaving but changes the name to
something temporary and then saves the file. File saving is generally very
quick. During the save process SPSS goes into Application busy mode and
won't will not exit unless you force it to via the task manager.

-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Runfeldt [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 8:35 AM
To: 'ViAnn Beadle'; [hidden email]
Subject: RE: Problems with SPSS 15? - Or is it 16?

Thanks, but I am using XP Pro (avoiding Vista like the plague) and each
project has its own file folder. I have tried reopening from the Recently
Used list as well as trying to find it by browsing and searching the system.
I did manage to find it - in my system backup from about a week before.

I should say that I have been using SPSS in one version or another since
1979. It is an indispensible tool. These problems seem to just be bugs
with this new version. Work-arounds are acceptable - if not completely
satisfying.

Bethany's comments make sense to me. Can anyone from SPSS verify that the
file saving process deletes the old file before saving the new version?

If so, maybe the problem comes when I am logging off at the end of the day.
Perhaps the work-around is to save-as the current version under a new name
each day and then wait a few minutes before shutting down the SPSS system.

Thanks,

Steve

Steve Runfeldt
Senior Account Executive/ Quantitative Research
Schwartz Consulting Partners
5027 W. Laurel Street
Tampa, FL 33607
813-207-0332 X 233 (work)
813-431-1840 (mobile)
[hidden email]
http://schwartzconsulting.com/

-----Original Message-----
From: ViAnn Beadle [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 10:20 AM
To: 'Steve Runfeldt'; [hidden email]
Subject: RE: Problems with SPSS 15? - Or is it 16?

Where do you save your files? If you are running Vista and are trying to
save your files in the SPSS location, Vista is silently putting them
elsewhere into a Virtual Store location since Program Files is verboten for
anything but set-up applications to write to.

SPSS can retrieve the file using the Open dialog your more recently used
file location; but if you try to find the file using a Windows explorer
window, it won't be able to find it. The location where the file really is
depends upon your user name. It's a very long path so it's easier to find it
with the Vista search function on the start menu.

The best approach is to set the default location of saved files in
Edit>Options.

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

Peck, Jon

Re: Problems with SPSS 15? - Or is it 16?

In fact, SPSS is careful to save an existing file under a different name in case the save fails for any reason (disk full, network failure, user kills job, ...) so that the original is not lost in that case. It does not delete the file being saved over until the new save succeeds. At least, that is what it is attempting to do.

HTH,
Jon Peck

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Bethany Cockburn
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 9:55 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [SPSSX-L] Problems with SPSS 15? - Or is it 16?

Sorry - to clarify my comment, SPSS is not supposed to delete the old file
before finishing saving the new one. It is on that unusual occasion that
happens that problems occur.
Bethany ;)

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

Charlotte-9

Re: Problems with SPSS 15? - Or is it 16?

In reply to this post by Steve Runfeldt

Hi all,

I'm definitely using SPSS v.15 and not version 16. In fact, having read
this thread, I won't be upgrading to 16 anytime soon!!!

I've been having problems all day today again. I basically try to open a
file and it suddenly won't open. If I try again, it then opens as
an 'unknown' file. Only when I shut down and re-open SPSS will the file
open properly.

I've had files over-written with other files from the same folder and I've
also had problems saving files. In this situation, SPSS will create a new
file with the suffix _1.

All a bit bizarre. I admit that I occasionally encountered the file
saving problem in version 14, but not the other problems.

Cheers,

Charlotte

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

Weeks, Kyle

Re: Problems with SPSS 15? - Or is it 16?

The main issues on this thread had nothing to do with SPSS 16. In fact, the issues are not version-specific issues. V16 has a variety of useful, new features (see http://www.spss.com/spss/whats_new_base.htm for a list).

I think John Lemon is correct. It seems that Charlotte is experiencing contention issues but not clear where her files are stored or if anyone else is accessing them at the same time. V14 used to have a problem leaving the process running from production facility. Fixed in 15.0 or worked around by choosing 'Close SPSS at completion of job' or not check the 'Show SPSS when running' option at all.

Regards.

Kyle Weeks, Ph.D.
Director of Product Management, SPSS Product Line
Product Management
SPSS Inc.
[hidden email]
www.spss.com
SPSS Inc. helps organizations turn data into insight through predictive analytics.

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Lou
Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2007 10:40 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: Problems with SPSS 15? - Or is it 16?

Hi all,

I'm definitely using SPSS v.15 and not version 16. In fact, having read
this thread, I won't be upgrading to 16 anytime soon!!!

I've been having problems all day today again. I basically try to open a
file and it suddenly won't open. If I try again, it then opens as
an 'unknown' file. Only when I shut down and re-open SPSS will the file
open properly.

I've had files over-written with other files from the same folder and I've
also had problems saving files. In this situation, SPSS will create a new
file with the suffix _1.

All a bit bizarre. I admit that I occasionally encountered the file
saving problem in version 14, but not the other problems.

Cheers,

Charlotte

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