SPSS® 12.0 Command Syntax Reference

COMMENT
{COMMENT} text
{ * }
Overview
COMMENT inserts explanatory text within the command sequence. Comments are included
among the commands printed back in the output; they do not become part of the information
saved in an SPSS-format data file. To include commentary in the dictionary of a data file,
use the DOCUMENT command.
Syntax Rules
Example
• The first line of a comment can begin with the keyword COMMENT or with an asterisk (*).
Comment text can extend for multiple lines and can contain any characters. A period is
required at the end of the last line to terminate the comment.
• Use /* and */ to set off a comment within a command. The comment can be placed
wherever a blank is valid (except within strings) and should be preceded by a blank.
Comments within a command cannot be continued onto the next line.
• The closing */ is optional when the comment is at the end of the line. The command can
continue onto the next line just as if the inserted comment was a blank.
• Comments cannot be inserted within data lines.
* Create a new variable as a combination of two old variables;
the new variable is a scratch variable used later in the
session; it will not be saved with the data file.
COMPUTE #XYVAR=0.
IF (XVAR EQ 1 AND YVAR EQ 1) #XYVAR=1.
• The three-line comment will be included in the display file but will not be part of the data
file if the working data file is saved.
Example
IF (RACE EQ 1 AND SEX EQ 1) SEXRACE = 1. /*White males.
• The comment is entered on a command line. The closing */ is not needed because the
comment is at the end of the line.
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