SPSS® 12.0 Command Syntax Reference

Example
* Repeating groups in varying locations.
REPEATING DATA 1395
INPUT PROGRAM.
DATA LIST FILE=VEHICLE / SEQNUM 2-4 NUMPERS 6-7 NUMVEH 9-10.
+ DO IF (SEQNUM LE 100).
+ COMPUTE FIRST=12.
+ ELSE.
+ COMPUTE FIRST=15.
+ END IF.
REPEATING DATA STARTS=FIRST /OCCURS=NUMVEH
/DATA=MAKE 1-8 (A) MODEL 9 (A) NUMCYL 10.
END INPUT PROGRAM.
• This example assumes that each input case is recorded on a single record and that there
are no continuation records. Repeating groups begin in column 12 for all records with
sequence numbers 1 through 100 and in column 15 for all records with sequence numbers
greater than 100.
• The sequence number for each record is defined as variable SEQNUM on the DATA LIST
command. The DO IF—END IF structure creates the variable FIRST with value 12 for
records with sequence numbers through 100 and value 15 for records with sequence
numbers greater than 100.
• Variable FIRST is specified on the STARTS subcommand.
OCCURS Subcommand
OCCURS specifies the number of repeating groups for each input case. OCCURS is required
and specifies a number if the number of groups is the same for all input cases or a variable if
the number of groups varies across input cases. The variable must be defined on a DATA LIST
command or created with transformation commands.
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
END DATA.
LIST.
T6VW C4
• Data for each input case are recorded on a single record; there are no continuation records.
• The value for variable NUMVEH in columns 9 and 10 indicates the number of repeating
groups on each record. One output case is built in the working data file for each occurrence
of a repeating group.