SPSS® 12.0 Command Syntax Reference

1656 VECTOR
Syntax Rules
• Multiple vectors can be created on the same command by using a slash to separate each
set of specifications.
• Variables specified on VECTOR must already be defined unless the short form of VECTOR
is used to create variables (see “VECTOR: Short Form” on p. 1657).
• The TO convention must be used to specify the variable list. Thus, variables specified
must be consecutive and must be from the same dictionary, permanent or scratch.
• A single vector must comprise all numeric variables or all string variables. The string
variables must have the same length.
• A scalar (a variable named on NUMERIC), a function, and a vector can all have the same
name, for example MINI. The scalar can be identified by the lack of a left parenthesis
following the name. Where a vector has the same name as a function (or the abbreviation
of a function), the vector name takes precedence. (See p. 1658 for an example.)
• Vector element names must always be specified with a subscript in parentheses.
Operations
Examples
• VECTOR takes effect as soon as it is encountered in the command sequence, unlike most
transformations, which do not take effect until the data are read. Thus, special attention
should be paid to its position among commands (see “Command Order” on p. 8 in
Volume I).
• VECTOR is in effect only until the first procedure that follows it. The vector must be redeclared
to be reused.
• Vectors can be used in transformations but not in procedures.
* Replace a case’s missing values with the mean of all
nonmissing values for that case.
DATA LIST FREE /V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8.
MISSING VALUES V1 TO V8 (99).
COMPUTE MEANSUB=MEAN(V1 TO V8).
VECTOR V=V1 TO V8.
LOOP #I=1 TO 8.
+ DO IF MISSING (V(#I)).
+ COMPUTE V(#I)=MEANSUB.
+ END IF.
END LOOP.
BEGIN DATA
1 99 2 3 5 6 7 8
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
2 3 5 5 6 7 8 99
END DATA.
LIST.