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SPSS® 12.0 Command Syntax Reference

SPSS® 12.0 Command Syntax Reference

SPSS® 12.0 Command Syntax Reference

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N OF CASES<br />

N OF CASES n<br />

Example<br />

Overview<br />

N OF CASES 100.<br />

N OF CASES (alias N) limits the number of cases in the working data file to the first n cases.<br />

Basic Specification<br />

The basic specification is N OF CASES followed by at least one space and a positive integer.<br />

Cases in the working data file are limited to the specified number.<br />

<strong>Syntax</strong> Rules<br />

• To limit the number of cases for the next procedure only, use the TEMPORARY command<br />

before N OF CASES (see TEMPORARY).<br />

• In some versions of the program, N OF CASES can be specified only after a working data<br />

file is defined.<br />

Operations<br />

• Unlike most transformations, N OF CASES takes effect as soon as it is encountered in the<br />

command sequence. Thus, special attention should be paid to its position among commands.<br />

See “<strong>Command</strong> Order” on p. 8 in Volume I for more information.<br />

• N OF CASES limits the number of cases analyzed by all subsequent procedures in the<br />

session. The working data file will have no more than n cases after the first data pass<br />

following the N OF CASES command. Any subsequent N OF CASES command specifying<br />

a greater number of cases will be ignored.<br />

• If N OF CASES specifies more cases than can actually be built, the program builds as<br />

many cases as possible.<br />

• If N OF CASES is used with SAMPLE or SELECT IF, the program reads as many records<br />

as required to build the specified n cases. It makes no difference whether the N OF<br />

CASES precedes or follows the SAMPLE or SELECT IF command.<br />

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