SPSS error?

[D.R. Wahlgren]

To follow up on this, it turned out that the case returned with the
second set of syntax was not the one I was looking for.  The value
for that case is NOT -4 but is a 0, which still fits the select rule.
So I'm stil left with why the first set of syntax below did not
return the one case with a -4.  I don't know if this is an error or
something to do with the user-missing value, but it seems I should be
able to work with the actual value that's entered (-4).

thanks,
Dennis

>Gang,
>I'm using SPSS Mac v16.0.2.  I ran frequencies on a variable, and
>saw a value of -4 that I would like to investigate further by
>pulling the hardcopy of the individual's data.  If it's of any
>relevance, the value of -4 is defined as user-missing for this
>variable.
>
>The following syntax returned no cases:
>
>temp.
>select if (q6 = -4).
>list id.
>
>
>The following syntax did return the case with the -4 value:
>
>temp.
>select if (q6 <= 0).
>list id.
>
>Any ideas as to why the first syntax did not work?
>
>Thanks,
>Dennis

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[ViAnn Beadle]

The result of a comparison for any missing value is missing.

do something like:
select if missing(q6).


----- Original Message -----
From: "D.R. Wahlgren" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 2:43 PM
Subject: SPSS error?

> To follow up on this, it turned out that the case returned with the
> second set of syntax was not the one I was looking for.  The value
> for that case is NOT -4 but is a 0, which still fits the select rule.
> So I'm stil left with why the first set of syntax below did not
> return the one case with a -4.  I don't know if this is an error or
> something to do with the user-missing value, but it seems I should be
> able to work with the actual value that's entered (-4).
>
> thanks,
> Dennis
>
>
>>Gang,
>>I'm using SPSS Mac v16.0.2.  I ran frequencies on a variable, and
>>saw a value of -4 that I would like to investigate further by
>>pulling the hardcopy of the individual's data.  If it's of any
>>relevance, the value of -4 is defined as user-missing for this
>>variable.
>>
>>The following syntax returned no cases:
>>
>>temp.
>>select if (q6 = -4).
>>list id.
>>
>>
>>The following syntax did return the case with the -4 value:
>>
>>temp.
>>select if (q6 <= 0).
>>list id.
>>
>>Any ideas as to why the first syntax did not work?
>>
>>Thanks,
>>Dennis
>
> =====================
> 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

=====================
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[SPSS Support]

Dennis,
You can also use the VALUE(<varname>) function to force the comparison to evaluate user missing values, as in:
Select if (value(q6) = -4).
This is advantageous if you have more than one user-missing value designated for a variable and don't want to include all of them.

David Matheson
SPSS Statistical Support

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of ViAnn Beadle
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 4:39 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: SPSS error?

The result of a comparison for any missing value is missing.

do something like:
select if missing(q6).


----- Original Message -----
From: "D.R. Wahlgren" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 2:43 PM
Subject: SPSS error?

> To follow up on this, it turned out that the case returned with the
> second set of syntax was not the one I was looking for.  The value
> for that case is NOT -4 but is a 0, which still fits the select rule.
> So I'm stil left with why the first set of syntax below did not
> return the one case with a -4.  I don't know if this is an error or
> something to do with the user-missing value, but it seems I should be
> able to work with the actual value that's entered (-4).
>
> thanks,
> Dennis
>
>
>>Gang,
>>I'm using SPSS Mac v16.0.2.  I ran frequencies on a variable, and
>>saw a value of -4 that I would like to investigate further by
>>pulling the hardcopy of the individual's data.  If it's of any
>>relevance, the value of -4 is defined as user-missing for this
>>variable.
>>
>>The following syntax returned no cases:
>>
>>temp.
>>select if (q6 = -4).
>>list id.
>>
>>
>>The following syntax did return the case with the -4 value:
>>
>>temp.
>>select if (q6 <= 0).
>>list id.
>>
>>Any ideas as to why the first syntax did not work?
>>
>>Thanks,
>>Dennis
>
> =====================
> 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

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