String to Numeric - value labels, missing values

[Joel_Rivard]

Hello,

 

We have a large dataset with 800 variables that have been coded as string format.  We want to convert these variables to a numeric, but don't want to loose the information in the value labels and missing values.  I've looked at some messages in the list archives concerning this, but I couldn't find one that addresses bringing the value labels and missing values.

 

Can this be done with SPSS?

Any help would be aprreciated.

We are currently running SPSS version 14.0.2.

 

Joel

                         

Joël Rivard

Data Technician

Maps, Data & Government Information Centre

Carleton University Library

[phone] ext.1685

[hidden email]

 

[Marta Garcia-Granero]

Hi Joel:

Have you tried with AUTORECODE?

AUTORECODE
  VARIABLES="stringvar"  /INTO "newnumeric"
  /BLANK=MISSING
  /PRINT.

HTH,
Marta Garcia-Granero

> We have a large dataset with 800 variables that have been coded as string format.  We want to convert these variables to a numeric, but don't want to loose the information in the value labels and missing values.  I've looked at some messages in the list archives concerning this, but I couldn't find one that addresses bringing the value labels and missing values.
>
>
> Can this be done with SPSS?
>

[Joel_Rivard]

Thank you very much for your response Marta.

I've just tried the AUTORECODE it almost does everything that I need.  It converts from string to numeric, brings over the variable and value labels, but it doesn't seem to bring the proper missing values.  The missing values from the original variables to the Recoded variables are different. I'll try to play around with the subcommands to see what I can get.

Thanks again,
Joel


Joël Rivard
Data Technician
Maps, Data & Government Information Centre
Carleton University Library
[phone] ext.1685
[hidden email]
-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Marta Garcia-Granero
Sent: Friday, August 17, 2007 2:18 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: String to Numeric - value labels, missing values

Hi Joel:

Have you tried with AUTORECODE?

AUTORECODE
  VARIABLES="stringvar"  /INTO "newnumeric"
  /BLANK=MISSING
  /PRINT.

HTH,
Marta Garcia-Granero

> We have a large dataset with 800 variables that have been coded as string format.  We want to convert these variables to a numeric, but don't want to loose the information in the value labels and missing values.  I've looked at some messages in the list archives concerning this, but I couldn't find one that addresses bringing the value labels and missing values.
>
>
> Can this be done with SPSS?
>