SPSS® 12.0 Command Syntax Reference

14 Universals
locations, variable and value labels, print and write formats, and missing-value indicators. To
use an SPSS-format data file, you must retrieve it with GET, which creates a working data
file from the SPSS-format data file. Only a few commands can use an SPSS-format data file
directly without first specifying GET; they include MATCH FILES, ADD FILES, and procedures
that can read SPSS matrix data files.
To view the contents of an SPSS-format data file, retrieve it with GET and then use LIST
to display the variables in the working data file. Figure 3 shows a partial listing of a working
file. The values are displayed using their print format, which is different from the way they
are internally stored.
Figure 3 Part of a listed working data file
ID SALBEG SEX TIME AGE SALNOW EDLEVEL WORK JOBCAT MINORITY SEXRACE
628 8400 0 81 28.50 16080 16 .25 4 0 1.00
630 24000 0 73 40.33 41400 16 12.50 5 0 1.00
632 10200 0 83 31.08 21960 15 4.08 5 0 1.00
633 8700 0 93 31.17 19200 16 1.83 4 0 1.00
635 17400 0 83 41.92 28350 19 13.00 5 0 1.00
637 12996 0 80 29.50 27250 18 2.42 4 0 1.00
641 6900 0 79 28.00 16080 15 3.17 1 0 1.00
649 5400 0 67 28.75 14100 15 .50 1 0 1.00
650 5040 0 96 27.42 12420 15 1.17 1 0 1.00
652 6300 0 77 52.92 12300 12 26.42 3 0 1.00
653 6300 0 84 33.50 15720 15 6.00 1 0 1.00
656 6000 0 88 54.33 8880 12 27.00 1 0 1.00
657 10500 0 93 32.33 22000 17 2.67 4 0 1.00
658 10800 0 98 41.17 22800 15 12.00 5 0 1.00
The dictionary is created when an SPSS-format data file is built. You can display or modify
the dictionary of a working file. Use DISPLAY DICTIONARY to view the dictionary, and use
commands such as VARIABLE LABELS, VALUE LABELS, and MISSING VALUES to modify
specific information contained in the dictionary. Figure 4 shows part of the displayed
dictionary information of the working data file displayed in Figure 3.
Figure 4 Displayed dictionary information
List of variables on the active file
Name Position
ID Employee Code 1
Print Format: F4
Write Format: F4
SALBEG Beginning Salary 2
Print Format: F5
Write Format: F5
Missing Values: 0
SEX Sex of Employee 3
Print Format: F1
Write Format: F1
Missing Values: 9
Value Label
0 Males
1 Females
TIME Job Seniority 4
Print Format: F2
Write Format: F2
Missing Values: 0