SPSS® 12.0 Command Syntax Reference

Operations
Example
PRINT FORMATS 1259
• Unlike most transformations, PRINT FORMATS takes effect as soon as it is encountered in
the command sequence. Special attention should be paid to its position among commands.
• Variables not specified on PRINT FORMATS retain their current print formats in the working
data file. To see the current formats, use the DISPLAY command.
• The new print formats are changed only in the working file and are in effect for the duration
of the session or until changed again with a PRINT FORMATS or FORMATS command.
Print formats in the original data file (if one exists) are not changed, unless the file is resaved
with the SAVE or XSAVE command.
• New numeric variables created with transformation commands are assigned default print formats
of F8.2 (or the format specified on the FORMAT subcommand of SET). The FORMATS
command can be used to change the new variable’s print formats.
• New string variables created with transformation commands are assigned the format
specified on the STRING command that declares the variable. PRINT FORMATS cannot be
used to change the format of a new string variable.
• If a numeric data value exceeds its width specification, the program attempts to display
some value nevertheless. First the program rounds decimal values, then removes punctuation
characters, then tries scientific notation, and finally, if there is still not enough space,
produces asterisks indicating that a value is present but cannot be displayed in the assigned
width.
PRINT FORMATS SALARY (DOLLAR8) / HOURLY (DOLLAR7.2)
/ RAISE BONUS (PCT2).
• The print format for SALARY is changed to DOLLAR with eight positions, including the
dollar sign and comma when appropriate. The value 11550 is displayed as $11,550. An
eight-digit number would require a DOLLAR11 format specification: eight characters for
digits, two characters for commas, and one character for the dollar sign.
• The print format for HOURLY is changed to DOLLAR with seven positions, including the
dollar sign, decimal point, and two decimal places. The number 115 is displayed as
$115.00. If DOLLAR6.2 had been specified, the value 115 would be displayed as $115.0.
the program would truncate the last 0 because a width of 6 is not enough to display the
full value.
• The print format for both RAISE and BONUS is changed to PCT with two positions: one
position for the percentage and one position for the percent sign. The value 9 displays as
9%. Because the width allows for only two positions, the value 10 displays as 10, since
the percent sign is truncated.