Re: String variable - leading zeros

Posted by Dawn Wiest on Jun 17, 2011; 8:17pm
URL: http://spssx-discussion.165.s1.nabble.com/Comparing-Correlation-Matrices-tp4498609p4499902.html

Gene, you are correct: the variable was imported as a numeric variable. I applied the syntax ViAnn recommended and it worked beautifully. Thanks!

>>> Gene Maguin <[hidden email]> 6/17/2011 3:58 PM >>>

Dawn,

 

Are you sure that ID remains a string variable once imported? The behavior you describe seems consistent with the import of a numeric variable or a string variable being converted to numeric in the import process.

 

Gene Maguin

 

If you need the leading zeroes than you must be doing a string compare since 12 and 012 are the same number. So you need to convert the number back to a string using the string function and specifying the N format for the number.

string stringvar(a9).

compute stringvar=string(numbervar, n9).

---

From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Dawn Wiest
Sent: Friday, June 17, 2011 3:38 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: String variable - leading zeros

Hello –

After importing data from a different program into SPSS, the leading zeros on a string variable that I use as a key variable across multiple data sets are lost. I need to recapture those leading zeros.

This is an ID variable that should have nine digits. When the data are exported, only the non-zero digits remain so that, for example, ID 000022122 becomes 22122; ID 000000011 becomes 11; ID 077777777 becomes 77777777, and so on.

Is there a way to replenish the leading zeros on this variable so that the total length of each of the resulting values is 9 digits?

Thank you in advance for your help

Dawn

 

Dawn Wiest, Ph.D.
Senior Research Analyst
Research Center - 7th Floor
American College of Physicians
190 North Independence Mall West Philadelphia, PA 19106-1572

[hidden email]
[phone]