Rosters

[Elaine LaBorde]

Hi Folks,

One of the things that SPSS does not seem to do very well is rosters (loops
of info). I'm the new Voucher Manager for an organization that does free
spay and neuters for clients in need of such services. I've got client data,
and I've got pet data. Clients can have more than one pet that they need
help getting "fixed". I want to use SPSS Data Entry to do those "intake"
phone calls. In other words, have a "survey" that collects all the
information I need to issue the Vouchers. How do I implement a pet roster?
I'd prefer to have multiple files open (the Client file and the Pet file) at
the same time, but I don't think that's possible in SPSS, nor Data Entry, is
it? I've got a feeling that I'll have to have all the information, Client
and Pet(s) in the record. A "flat file", as it were. Is that so? Thanks!

Elaine LaBorde
PALS of Central Texas
[hidden email]

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[Maguin, Eugene]

Elaine,

I've never used spss' data entry product so I have no understanding of its
capabilities; but I'm sure others can comment on its capabilities vis-a-vis
your question. Thinking solely in terms of an spss data file. If you have
the right version, you could have multiple data files open at the same time.
As you described, you'd have an owner file and a pet file, linked by an
owner id. However, I think a true relational database, Access is one
example, is a better way to go. Setting one up in access is pretty easy.
And, I think access has many, many advantages over direct entry into an spss
data file. Getting data out of access can be extremely easy or, I think,
harder. The easy way is to export the file as delimited text with field
names and import it into spss via a get data command. The harder way (ooh,
I'm sure people will disagree) is to use an ODBC operation. Either way you
can link it back up with a match files command using the table subcommand

Gene Maguin

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