SPSS® 12.0 Command Syntax Reference

REPEATING DATA
REPEATING DATA [FILE=file]
/STARTS=beg col[-end col] /OCCURS={value }
{varname}
[/LENGTH={value }] [/CONTINUED[=beg col[-end col]]]
{varname}
[/ID={col loc}=varname] [/{TABLE }]
{format } {NOTABLE}
/DATA=variable specifications
Example
INPUT PROGRAM.
DATA LIST / SEQNUM 2-4 NUMPERS 6-7 NUMVEH 9-10.
REPEATING DATA STARTS=12 /OCCURS=NUMVEH
/DATA=MAKE 1-8 (A) MODEL 9 (A) NUMCYL 10.
END INPUT PROGRAM.
BEGIN DATA
1001 02 02 FORD T8PONTIAC C6
1002 04 01 CHEVY C4
1003 02 03 CADILAC C8FORD T6VW C4
END DATA.
LIST.
Overview
REPEATING DATA reads input cases whose records contain repeating groups of data. For
each repeating group, REPEATING DATA builds one output case in the working data file. All
of the repeating groups in the data must contain the same type of information, although the
number of groups for each input case may vary. Information common to the repeating
groups for each input case can be recorded once for that case and then spread to each
resulting output case. In this respect, a file with a repeating data structure is like a hierarchical
file with both levels of information recorded on a single record rather than on separate
record types. For information on reading hierarchical files, see FILE TYPE—END FILE
TYPE.
REPEATING DATA must be used within an INPUT PROGRAM structure or within a FILE
TYPE structure with mixed or nested data. In an INPUT PROGRAM structure, REPEATING
DATA must be preceded by a DATA LIST command. In a FILE TYPE structure, DATA LIST is
needed only if there are variables to be spread to each resulting output case.
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