Save Often

[Shannon Deike]

Hello All,

1. In my recoding project I import a file from tab delimited format. I
save it as a 'original import.sav'

2. Run frequencies from the 'original import.sav' and save as a 'original
freqs.spv' and 'original freqs.xls'.

3. Resave the 'original import.sav' as 'working file.sav' and recode from
this file so that I do not corupt the 'original import.sav'.

4. Finally I save recoded file as 'coded file.sav' as well as coded freqs
to compare with original to ensure data quality.

Question: Is saving the 'working file.sav' necessary or can this save be
left off? The when I run the syntax the recoding is efficient but the slow
process is saving and exporting the files.

Thank you for your response,

Shannon

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[Lemon, John S.]

Shannon

 

In my opinion the save to “working file.sav” is unnecessary as PASW works on a temporary file for any recodes and will not overwrite “original import.sav” unless you specifically request it.

 

Best Wishes

 

John S. Lemon

Student Liaison Officer

Directorate of Information Technology (DIT) - University of Aberdeen

Edward Wright Building: Room G51

 

Tel:  [phone]

Fax: [phone]

 

Diary ( Free / Busy )

 

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Shannon Deike
Sent: 04 November 2009 00:54
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Save Often

 

Hello All,

 

1. In my recoding project I import a file from tab delimited format. I

save it as a 'original import.sav'

 

2. Run frequencies from the 'original import.sav' and save as a 'original

freqs.spv' and 'original freqs.xls'.

 

3. Resave the 'original import.sav' as 'working file.sav' and recode from

this file so that I do not corupt the 'original import.sav'.

 

4. Finally I save recoded file as 'coded file.sav' as well as coded freqs

to compare with original to ensure data quality.

 

Question: Is saving the 'working file.sav' necessary or can this save be

left off? The when I run the syntax the recoding is efficient but the slow

process is saving and exporting the files.

 

Thank you for your response,

 

Shannon

 

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The University of Aberdeen is a charity registered in Scotland, No SC013683.

[Art Kendall]

The test is: Can I recreate the whole process?
The goal is to be able to go all the way back to the beginning and
update your draft process.

If you save the syntax files there is no need to save intermediate files.

Art Kendall
Social Research Consultants

Shannon Deike wrote:

> Hello All,
>
> 1. In my recoding project I import a file from tab delimited format. I
> save it as a 'original import.sav'
>
> 2. Run frequencies from the 'original import.sav' and save as a 'original
> freqs.spv' and 'original freqs.xls'.
>
> 3. Resave the 'original import.sav' as 'working file.sav' and recode from
> this file so that I do not corupt the 'original import.sav'.
>
> 4. Finally I save recoded file as 'coded file.sav' as well as coded freqs
> to compare with original to ensure data quality.
>
> Question: Is saving the 'working file.sav' necessary or can this save be
> left off? The when I run the syntax the recoding is efficient but the slow
> process is saving and exporting the files.
>
> Thank you for your response,
>
> Shannon
>
> =====================
> 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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[Arthur Burke-2]

Shannon ...

I do not know the size of the files you are working with or what your
needs for backing up your files are.  But opening and saving large files
across a network can be a slow process. Consider doing your
transformation operations on a file that you open and close on a local
drive and then if necessary save the finished product back over the
network.  Saving the syntax through the series of operations is good
practice as well.

Art
*************************
Art Burke
Associate, Evaluation Program
Education Northwest
101 SW Main St, Ste 500
Portland, OR 97204
Phone: [phone]
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http://educationnorthwest.org
We have recently changed our name to "Education Northwest" from
"Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory." Please note the new e-mail
and Web addresses in the signature above. You may continue to find us on
the Web at http://www.nwrel.org for the immediate future as well.
************************


-----Original Message-----
From: Shannon Deike [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: Tuesday, November 03, 2009 4:54 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Save Often

Hello All,

1. In my recoding project I import a file from tab delimited format. I
save it as a 'original import.sav'

2. Run frequencies from the 'original import.sav' and save as a
'original freqs.spv' and 'original freqs.xls'.

3. Resave the 'original import.sav' as 'working file.sav' and recode
from this file so that I do not corupt the 'original import.sav'.

4. Finally I save recoded file as 'coded file.sav' as well as coded
freqs to compare with original to ensure data quality.

Question: Is saving the 'working file.sav' necessary or can this save be
left off? The when I run the syntax the recoding is efficient but the
slow process is saving and exporting the files.

Thank you for your response,

Shannon

=====================
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[Bruce Weaver]

Art Kendall wrote

The test is: Can I recreate the whole process?
The goal is to be able to go all the way back to the beginning and
update your draft process.

If you save the syntax files there is no need to save intermediate files.

As usual, I agree with Art.  However, there may be exceptions.  One that comes to mind for me was a case where I had fairly complex syntax to score an instrument.  It took quite a while to run, so rather than run it every time I wanted to do anything, I ran it once, and saved a data file that had the ID code and the various sub-scales scores for the instrument.  Then, when doing other analyses, I merged that file with the main data file.  Regarding Art's point about reproducibility, if data entry errors were discovered (for example), I could simply re-run the syntax that scored the instrument on the clean data file.

[Art Kendall]

I guess I was a little too terse.  Of course there will be times when it is time saving to keep some intermediate files.

Data entry errors are one time when one has to revisit previous steps.   There are other things that could result in going back to correct, polish, enhance, clarify, etc. previous drafts.

Art Kendall
Social Research Consultants.



Bruce Weaver wrote:

Art Kendall wrote:
  

The test is: Can I recreate the whole process?
The goal is to be able to go all the way back to the beginning and
update your draft process.

If you save the syntax files there is no need to save intermediate files.


    

As usual, I agree with Art.  However, there may be exceptions.  One that
comes to mind for me was a case where I had fairly complex syntax to score
an instrument.  It took quite a while to run, so rather than run it every
time I wanted to do anything, I ran it once, and saved a data file that had
the ID code and the various sub-scales scores for the instrument.  Then,
when doing other analyses, I merged that file with the main data file.
Regarding Art's point about reproducibility, if data entry errors were
discovered (for example), I could simply re-run the syntax that scored the
instrument on the clean data file.



-----
--
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[hidden email]
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"When all else fails, RTFM."

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To send me an e-mail, please use the address shown above.
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View this message in context: http://old.nabble.com/Save-Often-tp26189395p26204970.html
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===================== 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

[Francien Berndsen]

This week, I received the results of my SPSS Certification test (I passed!)

But to my surprise on the Score report I read the following:

****
IBM SPSS Statistics Certification Level 1
(*formerly PASW Statistics).
****

'Formerly PASW Statistics'? Is PASW now renamed to SPSS again????

Francien
- is still not used to Pasw, so I'm very happy if this is true

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[John McConnell-2]

Yes indeed Francien

Here's a confirmation from SPSSGlobal which was posted on Twitter...

"SPSSGlobal: @freudianquips: That is correct. So our PASW Statistics
product is now IBM SPSS Statistics"

Just after we'd all learned how to say it as well.

John

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
Francien Berndsen
Sent: 05 November 2009 10:38
To: [hidden email]
Subject: SPSS or PASW?

This week, I received the results of my SPSS Certification test (I
passed!)

But to my surprise on the Score report I read the following:

****
IBM SPSS Statistics Certification Level 1
(*formerly PASW Statistics).
****

'Formerly PASW Statistics'? Is PASW now renamed to SPSS again????

Francien
- is still not used to Pasw, so I'm very happy if this is true

=====================
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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[statisticsdoc]

Gee - someone at IBM must have read an article about Brand Equity!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

-----Original Message-----
From: John McConnell <[hidden email]>
Date:         Fri, 6 Nov 2009 11:04:52
To: <[hidden email]>
Subject:      Re: SPSS or PASW?

Yes indeed Francien

Here's a confirmation from SPSSGlobal which was posted on Twitter...

"SPSSGlobal: @freudianquips: That is correct. So our PASW Statistics
product is now IBM SPSS Statistics"

Just after we'd all learned how to say it as well.

John

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
Francien Berndsen
Sent: 05 November 2009 10:38
To: [hidden email]
Subject: SPSS or PASW?

This week, I received the results of my SPSS Certification test (I
passed!)

But to my surprise on the Score report I read the following:

****
IBM SPSS Statistics Certification Level 1
(*formerly PASW Statistics).
****

'Formerly PASW Statistics'? Is PASW now renamed to SPSS again????

Francien
- is still not used to Pasw, so I'm very happy if this is true

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