Search for a value in all variables?

[D.R. Wahlgren]

Gang,
Is there a way to search for a specific value on *all* variables in a
data set without naming every variable in the syntax commands?  For
example, if I want to locate every instance of a -8 (our code for a
refusal) across all 500+ variables in my data set, how would I go
about it?

I'd like to do two things: 1) identify the case and variable for each
instance of a -8, and 2) create a new variable that simply flags the
presence of at least one -8 on the case with a dichotomous (0/1)
variable.

Oh, and to complicate it just a bit more, a small number of the
variables are string.  If they could be included in the search, that
would be great, but I would be ok with omitting them from this search
if there was a relatively simple way to do it (I'd rather not have to
name them all on a DROP subcommand but will if necessary.)

I'm using v16 for Mac.

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

[Maguin, Eugene]

Dennis,

>>I'd like to do two things: 1) identify the case and variable for each
instance of a -8, and 2) create a new variable that simply flags the
presence of at least one -8 on the case with a dichotomous (0/1)
variable.

>>Oh, and to complicate it just a bit more, a small number of the
variables are string.

Task 1) Use a recode statement to create a set of corresponding indicator
variables. Like this

Recode x1 to x500(-8=1)(else=0) into n8_1 to n8_500.
Recode s501 to s508('-8'=1)(else=0) into n8_501 to n8_508.

Now task 2) is easy. I like a count command but you might also be able to
use an ANY function.

Count n8s=n8_1 to n8_508(1).

Gene Maguin

=====================
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]

Try the count command and use ALL or x TO y to specify the variables to check.

HTH,
Jon Peck
------Original Message------
From: D.R. Wahlgren
To: SPSSX-L
ReplyTo: D.R. Wahlgren
Sent: Jul 15, 2008 2:28 AM
Subject:      [SPSSX-L] Search for a value in all variables?

Gang,
Is there a way to search for a specific value on *all* variables in a
data set without naming every variable in the syntax commands?  For
example, if I want to locate every instance of a -8 (our code for a
refusal) across all 500+ variables in my data set, how would I go
about it?

I'd like to do two things: 1) identify the case and variable for each
instance of a -8, and 2) create a new variable that simply flags the
presence of at least one -8 on the case with a dichotomous (0/1)
variable.

Oh, and to complicate it just a bit more, a small number of the
variables are string.  If they could be included in the search, that
would be great, but I would be ok with omitting them from this search
if there was a relatively simple way to do it (I'd rather not have to
name them all on a DROP subcommand but will if necessary.)

I'm using v16 for Mac.

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

[D.R. Wahlgren]

At 11:42 AM -0500 7/15/08, Peck, Jon wrote:
>Try the count command and use ALL or x TO y to specify the variables to check.

Thanks, Jon.  Will this work with string variables included in the
range?  Can I specify (-8 or "-8") for the values to be counted?

thanks!
Dennis

>
>------Original Message------
>From: D.R. Wahlgren
>To: SPSSX-L
>ReplyTo: D.R. Wahlgren
>Sent: Jul 15, 2008 2:28 AM
>Subject:      [SPSSX-L] Search for a value in all variables?
>
>Gang,
>Is there a way to search for a specific value on *all* variables in a
>data set without naming every variable in the syntax commands?  For
>example, if I want to locate every instance of a -8 (our code for a
>refusal) across all 500+ variables in my data set, how would I go
>about it?
>
>I'd like to do two things: 1) identify the case and variable for each
>instance of a -8, and 2) create a new variable that simply flags the
>presence of at least one -8 on the case with a dichotomous (0/1)
>variable.
>
>Oh, and to complicate it just a bit more, a small number of the
>variables are string.  If they could be included in the search, that
>would be great, but I would be ok with omitting them from this search
>if there was a relatively simple way to do it (I'd rather not have to
>name them all on a DROP subcommand but will if necessary.)
>
>I'm using v16 for Mac.
>
>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

[Albert-Jan Roskam]

Hi,

Before using COUNT, you could convert the string variables to their numerical equivalent using the NUMBER function. compute new = number(old, f5).

Cheers!!
Albert-Jan

--- On Tue, 7/15/08, D.R. Wahlgren <[hidden email]> wrote:

> From: D.R. Wahlgren <[hidden email]>
> Subject: Re: Search for a value in all variables?
> To: [hidden email]
> Date: Tuesday, July 15, 2008, 6:52 PM
> At 11:42 AM -0500 7/15/08, Peck, Jon wrote:
> >Try the count command and use ALL or x TO y to specify
> the variables to check.
>
> Thanks, Jon.  Will this work with string variables included
> in the
> range?  Can I specify (-8 or "-8") for the values
> to be counted?
>
> thanks!
> Dennis
>
> >
> >------Original Message------
> >From: D.R. Wahlgren
> >To: SPSSX-L
> >ReplyTo: D.R. Wahlgren
> >Sent: Jul 15, 2008 2:28 AM
> >Subject:      [SPSSX-L] Search for a value in all
> variables?
> >
> >Gang,
> >Is there a way to search for a specific value on *all*
> variables in a
> >data set without naming every variable in the syntax
> commands?  For
> >example, if I want to locate every instance of a -8
> (our code for a
> >refusal) across all 500+ variables in my data set, how
> would I go
> >about it?
> >
> >I'd like to do two things: 1) identify the case and
> variable for each
> >instance of a -8, and 2) create a new variable that
> simply flags the
> >presence of at least one -8 on the case with a
> dichotomous (0/1)
> >variable.
> >
> >Oh, and to complicate it just a bit more, a small
> number of the
> >variables are string.  If they could be included in the
> search, that
> >would be great, but I would be ok with omitting them
> from this search
> >if there was a relatively simple way to do it (I'd
> rather not have to
> >name them all on a DROP subcommand but will if
> necessary.)
> >
> >I'm using v16 for Mac.
> >
> >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

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

[Richard Ristow]

At 09:46 AM 7/15/2008, Gene Maguin wrote:

>> >>I'd like to do two things: 1) identify the case and variable for
>> each instance of a -8, and 2) create a new variable that simply
>> flags the presence of at least one -8 on the case with a
>> dichotomous (0/1)variable. A small number of the variables are string.
>
>Task 1) Use a recode statement to create a set of corresponding
>indicator variables. Like this
>
>Recode x1 to x500(-8=1)(else=0) into n8_1 to n8_500.
>Recode s501 to s508('-8'=1)(else=0) into n8_501 to n8_508.
>
>Count n8s=n8_1 to n8_508(1).

Right. But it's a good idea to use scratch variables for values, like
n8_1 to n8_508, that exist solely as intermediate values in a calculation:

Recode x1   to x500(-8=1)  (else=0) into #n8_1   to #n8_500.
Recode s501 to s508('-8'=1)(else=0) into #n8_501 to #n8_508.

Count n8s=#n8_1 to #n8_508(1).

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