SPSS® 12.0 Command Syntax Reference

182 CASESTOVARS
consolidated into a single row in the new data file. Each time a new combination of ID
values is encountered, a new row is created.
• SPLIT file processing and row groups. If split file processing is in effect, the split variables
are automatically used to identify row groups (they are treated as though they appeared
first on the ID subcommand). Split file processing remains in effect in the new data file
unless a variable that is used to split the file is named on the DROP subcommand.
• New variable groups. A variable group is a group of related columns in the new data file
that is created from a variable in the original data. Each variable group contains a variable
for each index value or combination of index values encountered.
• Candidate variables. A variable in the original data is a candidate to become a variable
group in the new data file if it is not used on the SPLIT command or the ID, FIXED, or
DROP subcommands and its values vary within the row group. Variables named on the
SPLIT, ID, and FIXED subcommands are assumed to not vary within the row group and are
simply copied into the new data file.
• New variable names. The names of the variables in a new group are constructed by the procedure.
It uses the rootname specified on the RENAME subcommand and the string named
on the SEPARATOR subcommand.
• New variable formats. With the exception of names and labels, the dictionary information
for all of the new variables in a group (for example, value labels and format) is taken from
the variable in the original data.
• New variable order. New variables are created in the order specified by the GROUPBY
subcommand.
• Weighted files. The WEIGHT command does not affect the results of CASESTOVARS. If
original data are weighted, the new data file will be weighted unless the variable that is
used as the weight is dropped from the new data file.
• Selected cases. The FILTER and USE commands do not affect the results of CASESTOVARS.
It processes all cases.
Limitations
Example
The TEMPORARY command cannot be in effect when CASESTOVARS is executed.
The following is the LIST output for a data file in which repeated measurements for the same
case are stored on separate rows in a single variable:
insure caseid month bps bpd
BCBS 1 1 160 100
BCBS 2 1 120 70
BCBS 2 2 130 86
Prucare 1 1 160 94
Prucare 1 2 200 105
Prucare 1 3 180 105
Prucare 2 1 135 90