recode multiple variables at one time

[Sidky, Sonya Y - DHS]

Hello all,

 

I have a situation in which I have a series of string variables that I want to use to compute a new series of numeric variables. The value labels are the same for each variable—and the reason I want to convert to numeric (while retaining the string) is to be able to create a multiple response variable.  Here is a simple illustration of what I am looking for:

 

Let’s say each case in my database can be associated with up to 40 different types of error codes, thus I have 40 error code variables:

Error_1, Error_2…..through Error_40  and these are string variables

 

Now I want to recode/compute into Error_1_Num, Error_2_Num through Error_40_Num without having to type out all 40 instances separately, how do I modify the code to loop through all 40 variables?

 

Thanks,

 

Sonya

 

[Maguin, Eugene]

I may be wrong or misremembering but I think you could use Autorecode and I think there is a keyword to have the same numeric code for the same value label. So, 10 will have the same value label across the 40 variables.

Gene Maguin

 

From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Sidky, Sonya Y - DHS
Sent: Monday, July 01, 2013 3:28 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: recode multiple variables at one time

 

Hello all,

 

I have a situation in which I have a series of string variables that I want to use to compute a new series of numeric variables. The value labels are the same for each variable—and the reason I want to convert to numeric (while retaining the string) is to be able to create a multiple response variable.  Here is a simple illustration of what I am looking for:

 

Let’s say each case in my database can be associated with up to 40 different types of error codes, thus I have 40 error code variables:

Error_1, Error_2…..through Error_40  and these are string variables

 

Now I want to recode/compute into Error_1_Num, Error_2_Num through Error_40_Num without having to type out all 40 instances separately, how do I modify the code to loop through all 40 variables?

 

Thanks,

 

Sonya

 

[Jon K Peck]

The easiest way would be to use AUTORECODE with the /GROUP option and TO to define the input and output variable lists.

But note that multiple response variables can be constructed from strings if you use MRSETS and CTABLES.


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




From:        "Sidky, Sonya Y - DHS" <[hidden email]>
To:        [hidden email],
Date:        07/01/2013 01:28 PM
Subject:        [SPSSX-L] recode multiple variables at one time
Sent by:        "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <[hidden email]>

---

Hello all,
 
I have a situation in which I have a series of string variables that I want to use to compute a new series of numeric variables. The value labels are the same for each variable—and the reason I want to convert to numeric (while retaining the string) is to be able to create a multiple response variable.  Here is a simple illustration of what I am looking for:
 
Let’s say each case in my database can be associated with up to 40 different types of error codes, thus I have 40 error code variables:
Error_1, Error_2…..through Error_40  and these are string variables
 
Now I want to recode/compute into Error_1_Num, Error_2_Num through Error_40_Num without having to type out all 40 instances separately, how do I modify the code to loop through all 40 variables?
 
Thanks,
 
Sonya
 

[Bruce Weaver]

At first, I thought you wanted AUTORECODE (with the GROUP subcommand).  But now I'm not sure.  A little more detail would be helpful.  What are the possible values of Error_1 to Error_40, and what do you want the values of Error_1_Num to Error_40_Num to be?  Are they indicators (i.e., 1=Yes, 0=No) for 40 possible errors?

And by the way, the new variables would be easier to work with (e.g., using the keyword TO) if you named them Error_Num_1 to Error_Num_40.  

HTH.

Sidky, Sonya Y - DHS wrote

Hello all,

I have a situation in which I have a series of string variables that I want to use to compute a new series of numeric variables. The value labels are the same for each variable-and the reason I want to convert to numeric (while retaining the string) is to be able to create a multiple response variable.  Here is a simple illustration of what I am looking for:

Let's say each case in my database can be associated with up to 40 different types of error codes, thus I have 40 error code variables:
Error_1, Error_2.....through Error_40  and these are string variables

Now I want to recode/compute into Error_1_Num, Error_2_Num through Error_40_Num without having to type out all 40 instances separately, how do I modify the code to loop through all 40 variables?

Thanks,

Sonya

[Rich Ulrich]

AUTORECODE/GROUP is certainly easy and obvious.   And
putting the number at the end so you can say "A1 to A40"
instead of typing a list is handy, too.

On the other hand, going back to the question as stated --
There is no need to "loop through the variables" when using
a simple RECODE.   Give RECODE the list of variables to be
recoded, the list of recodings, and  (with INTO )  the list
of new names.

--
Rich Ulrich

---

Date: Mon, 1 Jul 2013 13:37:50 -0600
From: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: recode multiple variables at one time
To: [hidden email]

The easiest way would be to use AUTORECODE with the /GROUP option and TO to define the input and output variable lists.

But note that multiple response variables can be constructed from strings if you use MRSETS and CTABLES.


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




From:        "Sidky, Sonya Y - DHS" <[hidden email]>
To:        [hidden email],
Date:        07/01/2013 01:28 PM
Subject:        [SPSSX-L] recode multiple variables at one time
Sent by:        "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <[hidden email]>

---

Hello all,
 
I have a situation in which I have a series of string variables that I want to use to compute a new series of numeric variables. The value labels are the same for each variable—and the reason I want to convert to numeric (while retaining the string) is to be able to create a multiple response variable.  Here is a simple illustration of what I am looking for:
 
Let’s say each case in my database can be associated with up to 40 different types of error codes, thus I have 40 error code variables:
Error_1, Error_2…..through Error_40  and these are string variables
 
Now I want to recode/compute into Error_1_Num, Error_2_Num through Error_40_Num without having to type out all 40 instances separately, how do I modify the code to loop through all 40 variables?
 
Thanks,
 
Sonya
 

[David Marso]

I would only add:  Use A01 TO A40
I will leave it for you to think about rather than be too obvious ;-)
--

Rich Ulrich-2 wrote

AUTORECODE/GROUP is certainly easy and obvious.   And
putting the number at the end so you can say "A1 to A40"
instead of typing a list is handy, too.

On the other hand, going back to the question as stated --
There is no need to "loop through the variables" when using
a simple RECODE.   Give RECODE the list of variables to be
recoded, the list of recodings, and  (with INTO )  the list
of new names.

--
Rich Ulrich

Date: Mon, 1 Jul 2013 13:37:50 -0600
From: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: recode multiple variables at one time
To: [hidden email]

The easiest way would be to use AUTORECODE
with the /GROUP option and TO to define the input and output variable lists.



But note that multiple response variables
can be constructed from strings if you use MRSETS and CTABLES.





Jon Peck (no "h") aka Kim

Senior Software Engineer, IBM

[hidden email]

phone: [phone]









From:      
 "Sidky, Sonya
Y - DHS" <[hidden email]>

To:      
 [hidden email],


Date:      
 07/01/2013 01:28 PM

Subject:    
   [SPSSX-L] recode
multiple variables at one time

Sent by:    
   "SPSSX(r)
Discussion" <[hidden email]>








Hello all,

 

I have a situation in which I have a series
of string variables that I want to use to compute a new series of numeric
variables. The value labels are the same for each variable—and the reason
I want to convert to numeric (while retaining the string) is to be able
to create a multiple response variable.  Here is a simple illustration
of what I am looking for:

 

Let’s say each case in my database can
be associated with up to 40 different types of error codes, thus I have
40 error code variables:

Error_1, Error_2…..through Error_40  and
these are string variables

 

Now I want to recode/compute into Error_1_Num,
Error_2_Num through Error_40_Num without having to type out all 40 instances
separately, how do I modify the code to loop through all 40 variables?

 

Thanks,

 

Sonya