macro to replace portions of variable names in syntax file

[mpirritano]

All,

 

I like being able to update the dates on my files using this simple macro:

 

DEFINE !filedate() '20111219' !ENDDEFINE.

 

But now I have variable names that have a date embedded in them. I want to update all instances of those variable names with something like a macro.

 

For example, a typical command might be:      

 

if (Sep_Oct_2011_credits = 1) priordebitmatched_Sep_Oct_2011_credits_credits = 1.

 

I want to change the month and date portions since they will change every time I run the file, and I don’t want to have to convert all the syntax to a macro. That seems overkill.

 

Thanks

Matt

 

 

 

Matthew Pirritano, Ph.D.

Research Analyst IV

Medical Services Initiative (MSI)

Orange County Health Care Agency

[phone]

 

[Muenchen, Robert A (Bob)]

I'm out of the office until January 3rd.

 

Monday Dec. 19 through Wednesday Dec. 21, Ann Reed ([hidden email]) will be filling in for me.

Thursday Dec. 22 and Friday Dec. 23, Mike O'Neil ([hidden email]) will be filling in for me. The week following Christmas we'll be closed.

 

Cheers, Bob

 

[Rich Ulrich]

The simplest and most transparent way may be the old-fashioned one -

Create a basic syntax file with a dummy date, e.g., XXX_XXX.

Then, for the monthly processing, create the Report file, which will -
1) read your basic syntax file as a single Text variable per line;
2) use sub-string replacement in order to replace XXX_XXX with
   your desired date, e.g., Sep_Oct;
3) "write" out the file as Text and close it;
4) "Include" the new text file to run it.

Each month, you change the desired date, and then run the Report.

--
Rich Ulrich

---

Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:57:25 -0800
From: [hidden email]
Subject: macro to replace portions of variable names in syntax file
To: [hidden email]

All,

 

I like being able to update the dates on my files using this simple macro:

 

DEFINE !filedate() '20111219' !ENDDEFINE.

 

But now I have variable names that have a date embedded in them. I want to update all instances of those variable names with something like a macro.

 

For example, a typical command might be:      

 

if (Sep_Oct_2011_credits = 1) priordebitmatched_Sep_Oct_2011_credits_credits = 1.

 

I want to change the month and date portions since they will change every time I run the file, and I don’t want to have to convert all the syntax to a macro. That seems overkill.

 [...]

[Jon K Peck]

This could be done more easily using Python regular expressions.  You might open a template syntax file into a syntax window; then run a small Python program to update the template to the particular dates you want, and then run it from there.  But this problem appears to be a little more complicated.  What is the logic that would apply to names like _Sep_Oct_2011_credits_credits?

p.s.  There is a function in spssaux2.py named CreateFileNameWDate that automatically picks up the current date in generating a file name.

Regards,

Jon Peck (no "h") aka Kim
Senior Software Engineer, IBM
[hidden email]
new phone: [phone]




From:        Rich Ulrich <[hidden email]>
To:        [hidden email]
Date:        12/19/2011 02:27 PM
Subject:        Re: [SPSSX-L] macro to replace portions of variable names in              syntax file
Sent by:        "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <[hidden email]>

---

The simplest and most transparent way may be the old-fashioned one -

Create a basic syntax file with a dummy date, e.g., XXX_XXX.

Then, for the monthly processing, create the Report file, which will -
1) read your basic syntax file as a single Text variable per line;
2) use sub-string replacement in order to replace XXX_XXX with
  your desired date, e.g., Sep_Oct;
3) "write" out the file as Text and close it;
4) "Include" the new text file to run it.

Each month, you change the desired date, and then run the Report.

--
Rich Ulrich

---

Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:57:25 -0800
From: [hidden email]
Subject: macro to replace portions of variable names in syntax file
To: [hidden email]

All,
 
I like being able to update the dates on my files using this simple macro:
 
DEFINE !filedate() '20111219' !ENDDEFINE.
 
But now I have variable names that have a date embedded in them. I want to update all instances of those variable names with something like a macro.
 
For example, a typical command might be:      
 
if (Sep_Oct_2011_credits = 1) priordebitmatched_Sep_Oct_2011_credits_credits = 1.
 
I want to change the month and date portions since they will change every time I run the file, and I don’t want to have to convert all the syntax to a macro. That seems overkill.
 [...]

[mpirritano]

Jon,

 

Sep_Oct_2011_credits_credits should have had only one credits. Typo. This is a growing file that I add a field to every time I match a newer file of credits to it. So I need the accumulating records of what has been credited each month. The “Sep_Oct_2011” part corresponds to the file the credit came from. It’s not related to a current date.

 

I could imagine that this would be easy to do in Python, but since I want a variable that represents the date portion of the field to be available throughout the syntax I’d have to include all of the syntax in a python program, right? Or is there another way.

 

Thanks

Matt

 

Matthew Pirritano, Ph.D.

Research Analyst IV

Medical Services Initiative (MSI)

Orange County Health Care Agency

[phone]

---

From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Jon K Peck
Sent: Monday, December 19, 2011 2:50 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: macro to replace portions of variable names in syntax file

 

This could be done more easily using Python regular expressions.  You might open a template syntax file into a syntax window; then run a small Python program to update the template to the particular dates you want, and then run it from there.  But this problem appears to be a little more complicated.  What is the logic that would apply to names like _Sep_Oct_2011_credits_credits?

p.s.  There is a function in spssaux2.py named CreateFileNameWDate that automatically picks up the current date in generating a file name.

Regards,

Jon Peck (no "h") aka Kim
Senior Software Engineer, IBM
[hidden email]
new phone: [phone]




From:        Rich Ulrich <[hidden email]>
To:        [hidden email]
Date:        12/19/2011 02:27 PM
Subject:        Re: [SPSSX-L] macro to replace portions of variable names in              syntax file
Sent by:        "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <[hidden email]>

---

The simplest and most transparent way may be the old-fashioned one -

Create a basic syntax file with a dummy date, e.g., XXX_XXX.

Then, for the monthly processing, create the Report file, which will -
1) read your basic syntax file as a single Text variable per line;
2) use sub-string replacement in order to replace XXX_XXX with
  your desired date, e.g., Sep_Oct;
3) "write" out the file as Text and close it;
4) "Include" the new text file to run it.

Each month, you change the desired date, and then run the Report.

--
Rich Ulrich

---

Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:57:25 -0800
From: [hidden email]
Subject: macro to replace portions of variable names in syntax file
To: [hidden email]

All,
 
I like being able to update the dates on my files using this simple macro:
 
DEFINE !filedate() '20111219' !ENDDEFINE.
 
But now I have variable names that have a date embedded in them. I want to update all instances of those variable names with something like a macro.
 
For example, a typical command might be:      
 
if (Sep_Oct_2011_credits = 1) priordebitmatched_Sep_Oct_2011_credits_credits = 1.
 
I want to change the month and date portions since they will change every time I run the file, and I don’t want to have to convert all the syntax to a macro. That seems overkill.
 [...]

[Jon K Peck]

 You could include the whole program in a Submit block, but there are other alternatives.  What I was suggesting is that you have a standard syntax file in a template format that you open in a syntax window, and then you use a Python script to read the window contents, substitute the required date specifications and write it back to the same or a new window.  So the syntax file itself has no programmability code in it.  The template file might contain strings like <MONTH><DAY><YEAR> etc, and the Python code would substitute appropriately for these patterns.

You could also produce a small stand-alone Python program that takes input and output file specifications and just creates date-substituted syntax.

The third approach would be to write all the syntax using macros for the dates and then define the macro to create those date strings as appropriate.

Jon Peck (no "h") aka Kim
Senior Software Engineer, IBM
[hidden email]
new phone: [phone]




From:        "Pirritano, Matthew" <[hidden email]>
To:        [hidden email]
Date:        12/19/2011 04:18 PM
Subject:        Re: [SPSSX-L] macro to replace portions of variable names in              syntax file
Sent by:        "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <[hidden email]>

---

Jon,
 
Sep_Oct_2011_credits_credits should have had only one credits. Typo. This is a growing file that I add a field to every time I match a newer file of credits to it. So I need the accumulating records of what has been credited each month. The “Sep_Oct_2011” part corresponds to the file the credit came from. It’s not related to a current date.
 
I could imagine that this would be easy to do in Python, but since I want a variable that represents the date portion of the field to be available throughout the syntax I’d have to include all of the syntax in a python program, right? Or is there another way.
 
Thanks
Matt
 
Matthew Pirritano, Ph.D.
Research Analyst IV
Medical Services Initiative (MSI)
Orange County Health Care Agency
[phone]

---

From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Jon K Peck
Sent: Monday, December 19, 2011 2:50 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: macro to replace portions of variable names in syntax file
 
This could be done more easily using Python regular expressions.  You might open a template syntax file into a syntax window; then run a small Python program to update the template to the particular dates you want, and then run it from there.  But this problem appears to be a little more complicated.  What is the logic that would apply to names like _Sep_Oct_2011_credits_credits?

p.s.  There is a function in spssaux2.py named CreateFileNameWDate that automatically picks up the current date in generating a file name.

Regards,

Jon Peck (no "h") aka Kim
Senior Software Engineer, IBM
[hidden email]
new phone: [phone]




From:        Rich Ulrich <[hidden email]>
To:        [hidden email]
Date:        12/19/2011 02:27 PM
Subject:        Re: [SPSSX-L] macro to replace portions of variable names in              syntax file
Sent by:        "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <[hidden email]>

---

The simplest and most transparent way may be the old-fashioned one -

Create a basic syntax file with a dummy date, e.g., XXX_XXX.

Then, for the monthly processing, create the Report file, which will -
1) read your basic syntax file as a single Text variable per line;
2) use sub-string replacement in order to replace XXX_XXX with
 your desired date, e.g., Sep_Oct;
3) "write" out the file as Text and close it;
4) "Include" the new text file to run it.

Each month, you change the desired date, and then run the Report.

--
Rich Ulrich

---

Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:57:25 -0800
From: [hidden email]
Subject: macro to replace portions of variable names in syntax file
To: [hidden email]

All,
 
I like being able to update the dates on my files using this simple macro:
 
DEFINE !filedate() '20111219' !ENDDEFINE.
 
But now I have variable names that have a date embedded in them. I want to update all instances of those variable names with something like a macro.
 
For example, a typical command might be:      
 
if (Sep_Oct_2011_credits = 1) priordebitmatched_Sep_Oct_2011_credits_credits = 1.
 
I want to change the month and date portions since they will change every time I run the file, and I don’t want to have to convert all the syntax to a macro. That seems overkill.
[...]

[David Marso]

I believe you shall have grave difficulties resolving something of the form
'20111219' to anything resembling Sep_Oct_2011 (or probably more likely Nov_Dec_2011) aside from serious (complex) parsing within said MACRO or Python program.   May I suggest isolation of date dependent logic in a separate file as a macro (or python program if you prefer) and INSERT or INCLUDE it.
A more complete example of your date dependent code would be useful for eliciting more useful suggestions on further code development.

mpirritano wrote

All,

 

I like being able to update the dates on my files using this simple
macro:

 

DEFINE !filedate() '20111219' !ENDDEFINE.

 

But now I have variable names that have a date embedded in them. I want
to update all instances of those variable names with something like a
macro.

 

For example, a typical command might be:      

 

if (Sep_Oct_2011_credits = 1)
priordebitmatched_Sep_Oct_2011_credits_credits = 1.

 

I want to change the month and date portions since they will change
every time I run the file, and I don't want to have to convert all the
syntax to a macro. That seems overkill.

 

Thanks

Matt

 

 

 

Matthew Pirritano, Ph.D.

Research Analyst IV

Medical Services Initiative (MSI)

Orange County Health Care Agency

[phone]

[Albert-Jan Roskam]

Hi Matthew,

 

You could spss.setMacroValue to assign the new macro value to a macro name. That way you don't need a big program block. Maybe something like this untested code will do the trick:

 

import tkSimpleDialog
import spss
result = tkSimpleDialog.askstring("Date variable", "Enter date variable name")
spss.SetMacroValue("!varname", result)

 

You just use the !varname macro whereever you need it in the rest of your syntax.

 

Cheers!!
Albert-Jan

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All right, but apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, a fresh water system, and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From: "Pirritano, Matthew" <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2011 12:13 AM
Subject: Re: [SPSSX-L] macro to replace portions of variable names in syntax file

Jon,

 

Sep_Oct_2011_credits_credits should have had only one credits. Typo. This is a growing file that I add a field to every time I match a newer file of credits to it. So I need the accumulating records of what has been credited each month. The “Sep_Oct_2011” part corresponds to the file the credit came from. It’s not related to a current date.

 

I could imagine that this would be easy to do in Python, but since I want a variable that represents the date portion of the field to be available throughout the syntax I’d have to include all of the syntax in a python program, right? Or is there another way.

 

Thanks

Matt

 

Matthew Pirritano, Ph.D.

Research Analyst IV

Medical Services Initiative (MSI)

Orange County Health Care Agency

[phone]

From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Jon K Peck
Sent: Monday, December 19, 2011 2:50 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: macro to replace portions of variable names in syntax file

 

This could be done more easily using Python regular expressions.  You might open a template syntax file into a syntax window; then run a small Python program to update the template to the particular dates you want, and then run it from there.  But this problem appears to be a little more complicated.  What is the logic that would apply to names like _Sep_Oct_2011_credits_credits?

p.s.  There is a function in spssaux2.py named CreateFileNameWDate that automatically picks up the current date in generating a file name.

Regards,

Jon Peck (no "h") aka Kim
Senior Software Engineer, IBM
[hidden email]
new phone: [phone]




From:        Rich Ulrich <[hidden email]>
To:        [hidden email]
Date:        12/19/2011 02:27 PM
Subject:        Re: [SPSSX-L] macro to replace portions of variable names in              syntax file
Sent by:        "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <[hidden email]>

The simplest and most transparent way may be the old-fashioned one -

Create a basic syntax file with a dummy date, e.g., XXX_XXX.

Then, for the monthly processing, create the Report file, which will -
1) read your basic syntax file as a single Text variable per line;
2) use sub-string replacement in order to replace XXX_XXX with
  your desired date, e.g., Sep_Oct;
3) "write" out the file as Text and close it;
4) "Include" the new text file to run it.

Each month, you change the desired date, and then run the Report.

--
Rich Ulrich

Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:57:25 -0800
From: [hidden email]
Subject: macro to replace portions of variable names in syntax file
To: [hidden email]

All,
 
I like being able to update the dates on my files using this simple macro:
 
DEFINE !filedate() '20111219' !ENDDEFINE.
 
But now I have variable names that have a date embedded in them. I want to update all instances of those variable names with something like a macro.
 
For example, a typical command might be:      
 
if (Sep_Oct_2011_credits = 1) priordebitmatched_Sep_Oct_2011_credits_credits = 1.
 
I want to change the month and date portions since they will change every time I run the file, and I don’t want to have to convert all the syntax to a macro. That seems overkill.
 [...]

[mpirritano]

David et al.,

Apologies if my original post wasn't clear. I think Jon and Albert-Jan
were on the right track. I have yet to try Albert-Jan's solution.

What I want is simply a constant.

Like in python I could just say:

X = "Hello"

And then plug that in wherever else I want in the syntax. To be able to
use a constant that is not expressly a string, like Sep_Oct_2011 (no
quotes), as part of a variable name. So that I could just say X =
Sep_Oct_2011 and then plug X in wherever I wanted to do the replacement.
That is what I was using the macro syntax to define my file dates as.  I
don't need to parse the date string to equal anything. 20111219 doesn't
have to equal Nov_Dec_2011. In fact it was silly of me to call my
variable MMM_MMM_YYYY. I changed it from Sep_Oct_2011 to 090111_103111,
for my sep to oct file name. I prefer YYYYMMDD, but the person who is
sending me files uses MMDDYY.

Thanks!
Matt

Matthew Pirritano, Ph.D.
Research Analyst IV
Medical Services Initiative (MSI)
Orange County Health Care Agency
[phone]

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
David Marso
Sent: Monday, December 19, 2011 9:19 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: macro to replace portions of variable names in syntax file

I believe you shall have grave difficulties resolving something of the
form
'20111219' to anything resembling Sep_Oct_2011 (or probably more likely
Nov_Dec_2011) aside from serious (complex) parsing within said MACRO or
Python program.   May I suggest isolation of date dependent logic in a
separate file as a macro (or python program if you prefer) and INSERT or
INCLUDE it.
A more complete example of your date dependent code would be useful for
eliciting more useful suggestions on further code development.

mpirritano wrote

>
> All,
>
>
>
> I like being able to update the dates on my files using this simple
> macro:
>
>
>
> DEFINE !filedate() '20111219' !ENDDEFINE.
>
>
>
> But now I have variable names that have a date embedded in them. I

want

> to update all instances of those variable names with something like a
> macro.
>
>
>
> For example, a typical command might be:
>
>
>
> if (Sep_Oct_2011_credits = 1)
> priordebitmatched_Sep_Oct_2011_credits_credits = 1.
>
>
>
> I want to change the month and date portions since they will change
> every time I run the file, and I don't want to have to convert all the
> syntax to a macro. That seems overkill.
>
>
>
> Thanks
>
> Matt
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Matthew Pirritano, Ph.D.
>
> Research Analyst IV
>
> Medical Services Initiative (MSI)
>
> Orange County Health Care Agency
>
> [phone]
>

--
View this message in context:
http://spssx-discussion.1045642.n5.nabble.com/macro-to-replace-portions-
of-variable-names-in-syntax-file-tp5087267p5087990.html
Sent from the SPSSX Discussion mailing list archive at Nabble.com.

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

[Rich Ulrich]

Read a template, substitute for some text, write the result somewhere
and then run it.  That's the way that I read the original post.

My old-style solution still looks pretty easy, compared to what I've
read, which mostly tackle other problems. 

The text substitution can be more complicated than I wrote -- when the new
and old are not exactly the same length, you have to copy the old line into
a new line before writing it, to accommodate a longer or shorter text.

--
Rich Ulrich

> Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2011 08:31:23 -0800

> From: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: macro to replace portions of variable names in syntax file
> To: [hidden email]
>
> David et al.,
>
> Apologies if my original post wasn't clear. I think Jon and Albert-Jan
> were on the right track. I have yet to try Albert-Jan's solution.
>
> What I want is simply a constant.
>
> Like in python I could just say:
>
> X = "Hello"
>
> And then plug that in wherever else I want in the syntax. To be able to
> use a constant that is not expressly a string, like Sep_Oct_2011 (no
> quotes), as part of a variable name. So that I could just say X =
> Sep_Oct_2011 and then plug X in wherever I wanted to do the replacement.
> That is what I was using the macro syntax to define my file dates as. I
> don't need to parse the date string to equal anything. 20111219 doesn't
> have to equal Nov_Dec_2011. In fact it was silly of me to call my
> variable MMM_MMM_YYYY. I changed it from Sep_Oct_2011 to 090111_103111,
> for my sep to oct file name. I prefer YYYYMMDD, but the person who is
> sending me files uses MMDDYY.
>

[snip, previous]

[mpirritano]

Thanks Rich,

 

I’m not sure I’m clear on what people are calling a template. Is there an actual spss syntax file custom template? Or do you just mean a template in the generic sense of a preset file format? Or is it something else?

 

Are you talking about doing text substitution using python? Or are you talking about an old-style spss macro? Or doing find-replace?

 

I guess I wasn’t too clear on the procedure you were describing. If it’s not too much to ask, could you provide a little more detail?

 

Thanks

Matt

 

Matthew Pirritano, Ph.D.

Research Analyst IV

Medical Services Initiative (MSI)

Orange County Health Care Agency

[phone]

---

From: Rich Ulrich [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2011 11:09 AM
To: Pirritano, Matthew; SPSS list
Subject: RE: macro to replace portions of variable names in syntax file

 

Read a template, substitute for some text, write the result somewhere
and then run it.  That's the way that I read the original post.

My old-style solution still looks pretty easy, compared to what I've
read, which mostly tackle other problems. 

The text substitution can be more complicated than I wrote -- when the new
and old are not exactly the same length, you have to copy the old line into
a new line before writing it, to accommodate a longer or shorter text.

--
Rich Ulrich

> Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2011 08:31:23 -0800
> From: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: macro to replace portions of variable names in syntax file
> To: [hidden email]
>
> David et al.,
>
> Apologies if my original post wasn't clear. I think Jon and Albert-Jan
> were on the right track. I have yet to try Albert-Jan's solution.
>
> What I want is simply a constant.
>
> Like in python I could just say:
>
> X = "Hello"
>
> And then plug that in wherever else I want in the syntax. To be able to
> use a constant that is not expressly a string, like Sep_Oct_2011 (no
> quotes), as part of a variable name. So that I could just say X =
> Sep_Oct_2011 and then plug X in wherever I wanted to do the replacement.
> That is what I was using the macro syntax to define my file dates as. I
> don't need to parse the date string to equal anything. 20111219 doesn't
> have to equal Nov_Dec_2011. In fact it was silly of me to call my
> variable MMM_MMM_YYYY. I changed it from Sep_Oct_2011 to 090111_103111,
> for my sep to oct file name. I prefer YYYYMMDD, but the person who is
> sending me files uses MMDDYY.
>
[snip, previous]

[David Marso]

define !const()  12_13_2011  !ENDDEFINE .

DEFINE !DATEMO ().
compute !CONCAT(xxxx,!EVAL(!const),yyy)=!CONCAT(xxxx,!EVAL(!const),yyy,'_copy').
!ENDDEFINE .
SET MPRINT ON.
!DATEMO .


 103  0 M>  
 104  0 M>  .
 105  0 M>  COMPUTE XXXX12_13_2011YYY = XXXX12_13_2011YYY_copy
 106  0 M>    .


list.

[Rich Ulrich]

I don't have the commands on hand, but see below, for more detail.

---

Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2011 11:18:13 -0800
From: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: macro to replace portions of variable names in syntax file
To: [hidden email]

Thanks Rich,

 

"I’m not sure I’m clear on what people are calling a template. Is there an actual spss syntax file custom template? Or do you just mean a template in the generic sense of a preset file format? Or is it something else?"

 

"Template" is a generic idea.

For what I proposed, you *could* use as a template exactly the same thing.sps syntax file

that already ran.  I suggest that this "template" should be written with a dummy like XXXXXXXX

(with the proper number of characters) in the place of what will be the date-related text.

"Are you talking about doing text substitution using python? Or are you talking about an old-style spss macro? Or doing find-replace?

I guess I wasn’t too clear on the procedure you were describing. If it’s not too much to ask, could you provide a little more detail?"

 

[snip, previous]

 

I'm talking about using SPSS - no Python, no macro - to do what is *essentially* find-replace.

You read the template thing.sps and write out a modified version, to_do.sps -- which will be run later.

You specify "thing.sps" as the input file, with on variable, Line, that is an A80 (max line?) variable.

You could use Index( ...) a couple of times to find where that dummy starts, and Substring replacement

to plug in the actual Text for this run -- This is the one line that would be changed for a new run.

Or, I think there is a generic "substitute" command which is handier, but I've never had the need for it.

Then you use WRITE, not SAVE, to write out the modified Line.

(At this point, I think you need something to Close the file.)

Then you use "Include file= to_do.sps"    -- and that brings in the newly written file, to be run.

Afterwords, you have the to_do.sps  on disk as documentation that you ran the job; or you can

delete it.

I don't have SPSS available so I can't check up on these commands.

--

Rich Ulrich

[Matthew Fuller-Tyszkiewicz]

Hi,

I'm away on leave until Tuesday 3rd January. I will not have access to my email account while away, and willl endeavour to return your emails shortly after my return.

Merry christmas and happy new year,
Matt.

 

[David Marso]

GACK!!! CHOKE!!!
Why not just write a bloody MACRO for crying out loud.
This whole "template" idea people are throwing around is a giant step backwards!
By the time you have such functional template it will be one hell of a LOT uglier than any MACRO.

---
*"You specify "thing.sps" as the input file, with on variable, Line, that is an A80 (max line?) variable."
AFAIK there is *NO* 80 line MAX for files to be "INCLUDED" unless they contain inline data.

From the FM:
"• Commands in an included file must begin in column 1, and continuation lines for each
command must be indented at least one column.
• A raw data file can be used as an include file if the first line of the included file contains
the BEGIN DATA command and the last line contains the END DATA command. However,
because the data are specified between BEGIN DATA and END DATA, they are limited to a
maximum of 80 columns (the maximum may be fewer than 80 columns on some systems).
• As many INCLUDE commands as needed can be used in a session.
• INCLUDE commands can be nested so that one set of included commands includes an-
other set of commands. This nesting can go to five levels. However, a file cannot be
included that is still open from a previous step."
NB: This documentation is from version 11.5, things may be different in more recent versions

*"You could use Index( ...) a couple of times to find where that dummy starts, and Substring replacement to plug in the actual Text for this run -- This is the one line that would be changed for a new run.  Or, I think there is a generic "substitute" command which is handier, but I've never had the need for it."

I believe the function is REPLACE (available in more recent versions).

*"Then you use WRITE, not SAVE, to write out the modified Line.
(At this point, I think you need something to Close the file.)".

One would use EXECUTE to pass the data to "WRITE" the file and close the handle.

*"Then you use "Include file= to_do.sps"    -- and that brings in the newly written file, to be run."
People these data recommend using INSERT rather than INCLUDE as it has less stringent requirements.
<SNIP>.

*BUT*!!!! I still DON'T recommend this approach!!!
Do it in MACRO or Python for crying out loud!

Rich Ulrich-2 wrote

I don't have the commands on hand, but see below, for more detail.

Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2011 11:18:13 -0800
From: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: macro to replace portions of variable names in syntax file
To: [hidden email]






















Thanks Rich,

 

"I’m not sure I’m clear on what
people are calling a template. Is there an actual spss syntax file custom template?
Or do you just mean a template in the generic sense of a preset file format? Or
is it something else?"

 "Template" is a generic idea.
For what I proposed, you *could* use as a template exactly the same thing.sps syntax filethat already ran.  I suggest that this "template" should be written with a dummy like XXXXXXXX(with the proper number of characters) in the place of what will be the date-related text.



"Are you talking about doing text
substitution using python? Or are you talking about an old-style spss macro? Or
doing find-replace?I guess I wasn’t too clear on the
procedure you were describing. If it’s not too much to ask, could you
provide a little more detail?"

 

[snip, previous]

 I'm talking about using SPSS - no Python, no macro - to do what is *essentially* find-replace.You read the template thing.sps and write out a modified version, to_do.sps -- which will be run later.

You specify "thing.sps" as the input file, with on variable, Line, that is an A80 (max line?) variable.You could use Index( ...) a couple of times to find where that dummy starts, and Substring replacementto plug in the actual Text for this run -- This is the one line that would be changed for a new run.Or, I think there is a generic "substitute" command which is handier, but I've never had the need for it.
Then you use WRITE, not SAVE, to write out the modified Line.(At this point, I think you need something to Close the file.)
Then you use "Include file= to_do.sps"    -- and that brings in the newly written file, to be run.Afterwords, you have the to_do.sps  on disk as documentation that you ran the job; or you can
delete it.
I don't have SPSS available so I can't check up on these commands.

--
Rich Ulrich

[Susan Maree Cotton]

Seasons Greetings!  I am currently on leave until the 17th January and will not be looking at emails during this time.  If it is urgent, please email me on the 17th January.