Syntax for creating string variable with mean value + ui range from existing variables

[SPSSPeter]

Dear all,

I have a file with three separate variables for the mean value, a lower and an upper estimate. From these three variables, I would like to create a string variable showing the mean value with the uncertainty interval as shown in this example:

Mean_value: 10
Lower_estimate: 8
Upper_estimate: 13

New_string_variable: "10 [8-13]"

Which syntax can I use for this purpose? Your help is greatly appreciated.
Best,

peter

[David Marso]

See STRING command and STRING and CONCAT functions.
STRING New_string_variable (A10).
COMPUTE New_string_variable=CONCAT(STRING(Mean_value,F2)," [",STRING(Lower_estimate,F2),"-"........ etc...)
You can complete this as an exercise.

SPSSPeter wrote

Dear all,

I have a file with three separate variables for the mean value, a lower and an upper estimate. From these three variables, I would like to create a string variable showing the mean value with the uncertainty interval as shown in this example:

Mean_value: 10
Lower_estimate: 8
Upper_estimate: 13

New_string_variable: "10 [8-13]"

Which syntax can I use for this purpose? Your help is greatly appreciated.
Best,

peter

[SPSSPeter]

Dear David,

thank you very very much, this works, you saved me a lot of time, thanks! This syntax worked perfectly:

STRING value_with_ui_range (A100).
COMPUTE value_with_ui_range = CONCAT (LTRIM(STRING (value,F10.2)), " [",LTRIM(STRING (lower_estimate, F10.2)), "-", LTRIM(STRING (upper_estimate, F10.2)),"]").
EXECUTE.

Just one more question: this syntax gives me for the numeric value "0.12" the string value ".12" (without zero before the decimals) - ideally, I would like to get "0.12". Is there any easy way to accomplish this?

best, and thanks so much,

peter

[David Marso]

Two basic solutions come to mind.
Use REPLACE function or conditionally prepend the strings.
Take your pick.

/* Use REPLACE */.
STRING value_with_ui_range (A100).
COMPUTE value_with_ui_range = CONCAT ((STRING (value,F10.2))," [", LTRIM(STRING (lower_estimate, F10.2)), "-", LTRIM(STRING (upper_estimate, F10.2)),"]").
DO REPEAT old=" ." "[." "-." / new="0."  "[0." "-0." .
COMPUTE value_with_ui_range=REPLACE(value_with_ui_range,old,new).
END REPEAT.

* Alternatively prepend the string *.
STRING value_with_ui_range (A100).
DO REPEAT nu=value lower_estimate upper_estimate / str= #v #l #u /del=" [" "-" "]".
STRING str (A10).
COMPUTE str=STRING(nu,F10.2).
IF (nu LT 1) str=CONCAT("0",LTRIM(str)).
COMPUTE  value_with_ui_range =CONCAT( RTRIM(value_with_ui_range),LTRIM(str),del).
END REPEAT.

SPSSPeter wrote

Dear David,

thank you very very much, this works, you saved me a lot of time, thanks! This syntax worked perfectly:

STRING value_with_ui_range (A100).
COMPUTE value_with_ui_range = CONCAT (LTRIM(STRING (value,F10.2)), " [",LTRIM(STRING (lower_estimate, F10.2)), "-", LTRIM(STRING (upper_estimate, F10.2)),"]").
EXECUTE.

Just one more question: this syntax gives me for the numeric value "0.12" the string value ".12" (without zero before the decimals) - ideally, I would like to get "0.12". Is there any easy way to accomplish this?

best, and thanks so much,

peter

[SPSSPeter]

the first solution you proposed worked perfectly fine, thanks a lot!
peter