Syntax Text

[Dale]

I have not used SPSS much in the last 20 years (SPSS-X on a mainframe). As such I do not recall much of the command language (syntax language) used within it.   I have used other programs, mainly SYSTAT, and have written a great deal of command language there.  It seems somewhat different though than SPSS and so I need to update here.  I have version 19 of the software.  What is a good entry level book/text/source to get started with writing SPSS syntax that will cover version 19.  A nice step by step sort of thing would be ideal.

Dale

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[Maguin, Eugene]

Hi Dale,

I first used spss with the maroon book, mainframe of course, and
continuously since then. The language has not changed; it has expanded with
new commands, some 'retired' commands (Manova, and one or two of the other
anova-related command), new functions, new data formats, a new output
format. One important change is the shift from mainframe to pc. But, I think
that if you pulled up programs written for X and changed the Get file
commands from mainframe to pc, they would run or come very close to running
with only syntax errors. I think others on the list have a longer and
better-remembered history with spss and can offer even better comments.

My suggestion is to pull out the X manual or an X program and check whether
you find the commands in the 19 syntax reference. That said, skim the
Universals section of the reference and then look at the command list for
remembered name and then the unfamiliar names. I think buying an entry-level
book is a waste of money and time.



-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
Pietrzak, Dale
Sent: Wednesday, October 19, 2011 10:07 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Syntax Text

I have not used SPSS much in the last 20 years (SPSS-X on a mainframe). As
such I do not recall much of the command language (syntax language) used
within it.   I have used other programs, mainly SYSTAT, and have written a
great deal of command language there.  It seems somewhat different though
than SPSS and so I need to update here.  I have version 19 of the software.
What is a good entry level book/text/source to get started with writing SPSS
syntax that will cover version 19.  A nice step by step sort of thing would
be ideal.

Dale

=====================
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[hidden email] (not to SPSSX-L), with no body text except the
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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=====================
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[David Marso]

Let's see... The Syntax Reference Guide from the CD.
Go through the archives of this group?
One homework exercise would be to take one of your more involved SYSTAT programs and attempt to translate it into SPSS syntax.
Really depends on what you need to do.
If you have specific questions this is a good forum to post them.
--

Pietrzak, Dale wrote

I have not used SPSS much in the last 20 years (SPSS-X on a mainframe). As such I do not recall much of the command language (syntax language) used within it.   I have used other programs, mainly SYSTAT, and have written a great deal of command language there.  It seems somewhat different though than SPSS and so I need to update here.  I have version 19 of the software.  What is a good entry level book/text/source to get started with writing SPSS syntax that will cover version 19.  A nice step by step sort of thing would be ideal.

Dale

=====================
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[John F Hall]

Dale

 

Gene started on the maroon manual: I started on the blue one in 1972.  Check out my tutorials on http://surveyresearch.weebly.com/summary-guide-to-spss-tutorials.html (they use syntax in preference to the GUI, but many exercises and examples are replicated using the drop-down menus) and also the recommended SPSS textbooks on http://surveyresearch.weebly.com/spss-textbooks.html. 

 

There’s not much around on syntax, but two books you might find useful are:

 

Sarah Boslaugh

An Intermediate Guide to SPSS Programming: using syntax for data management

(Sage 2005)

 

Jacqueline Collier

Using SPSS Syntax: A Beginners’ Guide

(Sage 2010)

 

My site has separate pages with comments on each and links to publishers etc.

 

John F Hall

 

[hidden email]  

www.surveyresearch.weebly.com

 

 

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----

From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Pietrzak, Dale

Sent: 19 October 2011 16:07

To: [hidden email]

Subject: Syntax Text

 

I have not used SPSS much in the last 20 years (SPSS-X on a mainframe). As such I do not recall much of the command language (syntax language) used within it.   I have used other programs, mainly SYSTAT, and have written a great deal of command language there.  It seems somewhat different though than SPSS and so I need to update here.  I have version 19 of the software.  What is a good entry level book/text/source to get started with writing SPSS syntax that will cover version 19.  A nice step by step sort of thing would be ideal.

 

Dale

 

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

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[John F Hall]

Dale, Gene,

There's some stuff on the changes to syntax in my 2006 presentation to
ASSESS (SPSS users in Europe).  It's all on my website on page:

http://surveyresearch.weebly.com/old-dog-old-tricks.html

This page has links to a slideshow comparing syntax over the years and also
to an appendix detailing my experience in attempting to restore data sets
using syntax from way back in the 1970s on a range of mainframes for use
with SPSS 11 for Windows.  My SPSS tutorials were originally written in
WordStar4 on a DOS PC for SPSS-X on a Vax mainframe running under VMS, but
many have now been converted and updated for SPSS 15, 18 and 19.  They're
also step by step with full colour screenshots at each step.

Old Dog, Old Tricks was a reaction to reviewing Julie Pallant's book "SPSS
Survival Manual" (1st edition 2001).  Greed and vanity made me offer to
review it for the (UK) Social Research Association, but when I received it I
discovered to my horror that it was not only for Windows, but also entirely
devoid of syntax.  I'd not used SPSS since I retired in 1992 and never used
Windows, Word or SPSS for Windows so a new computer and a steep learning
curve followed.  My critical reviews and comments on all editions of Pallant
are on the site.

Old Dog, Old Tricks also has sections replicating Pallant's exercises in
syntax (so much easier and quicker) and another on uses (and abuses?) of
SPSS usage in major surveys.  The slideshows also cover these.  Have fun.


John F Hall

[hidden email]
www.surveyresearch.weebly.com







-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
Gene Maguin
Sent: 19 October 2011 17:11
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: Syntax Text

Hi Dale,

I first used spss with the maroon book, mainframe of course, and
continuously since then. The language has not changed; it has expanded with
new commands, some 'retired' commands (Manova, and one or two of the other
anova-related command), new functions, new data formats, a new output
format. One important change is the shift from mainframe to pc. But, I think
that if you pulled up programs written for X and changed the Get file
commands from mainframe to pc, they would run or come very close to running
with only syntax errors. I think others on the list have a longer and
better-remembered history with spss and can offer even better comments.

My suggestion is to pull out the X manual or an X program and check whether
you find the commands in the 19 syntax reference. That said, skim the
Universals section of the reference and then look at the command list for
remembered name and then the unfamiliar names. I think buying an entry-level
book is a waste of money and time.



-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
Pietrzak, Dale
Sent: Wednesday, October 19, 2011 10:07 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Syntax Text

I have not used SPSS much in the last 20 years (SPSS-X on a mainframe). As
such I do not recall much of the command language (syntax language) used
within it.   I have used other programs, mainly SYSTAT, and have written a
great deal of command language there.  It seems somewhat different though
than SPSS and so I need to update here.  I have version 19 of the software.
What is a good entry level book/text/source to get started with writing SPSS
syntax that will cover version 19.  A nice step by step sort of thing would
be ideal.

Dale

=====================
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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[hidden email] (not to SPSSX-L), with no body text except the
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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=====================
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[Bruce Weaver]

And as Art Kendall often remarks, you can use the GUI to PASTE a first draft of the syntax for many common tasks.  What you will discover as you become more adept is that syntax pasted from the GUI may be more verbose and complicated than it needs to be (e.g., the syntax to set a filter).  

HTH.

David Marso wrote

Let's see... The Syntax Reference Guide from the CD.
Go through the archives of this group?
One homework exercise would be to take one of your more involved SYSTAT programs and attempt to translate it into SPSS syntax.
Really depends on what you need to do.
If you have specific questions this is a good forum to post them.
--

Pietrzak, Dale wrote

I have not used SPSS much in the last 20 years (SPSS-X on a mainframe). As such I do not recall much of the command language (syntax language) used within it.   I have used other programs, mainly SYSTAT, and have written a great deal of command language there.  It seems somewhat different though than SPSS and so I need to update here.  I have version 19 of the software.  What is a good entry level book/text/source to get started with writing SPSS syntax that will cover version 19.  A nice step by step sort of thing would be ideal.

Dale

=====================
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[hidden email] (not to SPSSX-L), with no body text except the
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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[David Marso]

Comments inline:

Gene Maguin wrote

**Hi Dale,

**I first used spss with the maroon book, mainframe of course, and
**continuously since then.
The Maroon book IIRC was SPSS?1?...SPSS9 (pre SPSS-X) and the base language model for the now defunct but in it's time very popular SPSS-PC.

**The language has not changed; it has expanded with
**new commands, some 'retired' commands (Manova, and one or two of the other
**anova-related command), new functions, new data formats,
SPSS-X was a major and significant departure from previous version(s), adding significant programming structures (LOOP, VECTOR etc and in SPSS-X version 3 the MACRO language, INPUT PROGRAMS and other fun stuff which most people never use(d).
MANOVA (AFAIK) still exists but there is no dialog box functionality.

**a new output format. One important change is the shift from mainframe to pc. But, I think
**that if you pulled up programs written for X and changed the Get file
**commands from mainframe to pc, they would run or come very close to running
**with only syntax errors. I think others on the list have a longer and
**better-remembered history with spss and can offer even better comments.

I suspect that once file system references are modified to be compatible, a MAINFRAME (not Pre SPSS-X) program *WILL* run without any syntax errors provided it is invoked through an INCLUDE command... (Mainframe programs did not require command delimiters (.).  Alternatively one can insert the delimiter in the appropriate position (not necessarily at the end of each line but at the end of each command.  Note commands on MF begin in column 1 and continuation lines are indented by at least one space.  Hence, any line which is followed by text beginning in column 1 requires a period at the end.  Windows syntax relaxes the requirement for continuations of commands to be indented and can appear in column 1 (I suggest for readability and compatibility to utilize indentation if only for the reason that one may use INCLUDE without worry** I KNOW INSERT exists in more recent versions, but if it ain't broken why 'fix' it.

**My suggestion is to pull out the X manual or an X program and check whether
**you find the commands in the 19 syntax reference. That said, skim the
**Universals section of the reference and then look at the command list for
**remembered name and then the unfamiliar names. I think buying an entry-level
**book is a waste of money and time.
I concur!!!


-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
Pietrzak, Dale
Sent: Wednesday, October 19, 2011 10:07 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Syntax Text

I have not used SPSS much in the last 20 years (SPSS-X on a mainframe). As
such I do not recall much of the command language (syntax language) used
within it.   I have used other programs, mainly SYSTAT, and have written a
great deal of command language there.  It seems somewhat different though
than SPSS and so I need to update here.  I have version 19 of the software.
What is a good entry level book/text/source to get started with writing SPSS
syntax that will cover version 19.  A nice step by step sort of thing would
be ideal.

Dale

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