SHIFT VALUES documentation-- minor rant

[Marks, Jim]

Dear SPSS – an IBM company:

 

It would be useful to include the fact that SHIFT VALUES cannot be used within DO IF – END IF as part of the help file.

 

It is annoying to read the documentation before trying the command specifically to check this issue, and still get errors...

 

--jim

 

[Rick Oliver-3]

SHIFT VALUES is a procedure that reads the data, not a transformation. Like any other procedure that reads the data, it cannot be used within DO IF-END IF.

This is sometimes a difficult distinction to make.  What is missing from the SHIFT VALUES documentation is the statement that should be included for all procedures that read the data:

"This command reads the active dataset and causes execution of any pending commands."

This will be fixed in the next release.

From:	"Marks, Jim" <[hidden email]>
To:	[hidden email]
Date:	04/28/2010 02:53 PM
Subject:	SHIFT VALUES documentation-- minor rant
Sent by:	"SPSSX(r) Discussion" <[hidden email]>

---

Dear SPSS – an IBM company:
 
It would be useful to include the fact that SHIFT VALUES cannot be used within DO IF – END IF as part of the help file.
 
It is annoying to read the documentation before trying the command specifically to check this issue, and still get errors...
 
--jim