SPSS® 12.0 Command Syntax Reference

28 Universals
For fixed data:
• If a value has no coded decimal point but the input format specifies decimal positions, the
rightmost positions are interpreted as implied decimal digits. For example, if the input F
format specifies two decimal digits, the value 1234 is interpreted as 12.34; however, the
value 123.4 is still interpreted as 123.4.
• With the N format, decimal places are always implied. Only unsigned integers are
allowed. Values not padded with leading zeros to the specified width or those containing
decimal points are assigned the system-missing value. This format is useful for reading
and checking values that should be integers containing leading zeros.
• The E format reads all forms of scientific notation. If the sign is omitted, + is assumed. If
the sign (+ or –) is specified before the exponent, the E or D can be omitted. A single
space is permitted after the E or D and/or after the sign. If both the sign and the letter E
or D are omitted, implied decimal places are assumed. For example, 1.234E3, 1.234+3,
1.234E+3, 1.234D3, 1.234D+3, 1.234E 3, and 1234 are all legitimate values. Only the last
value can imply decimal places.
• E format input values can be up to 40 characters wide and include up to 15 decimal positions.
• The default output width (w) for the E format is either the specified input width or the
number of specified decimal positions plus 7 (d+7), whichever is greater. The minimum
width is 10 and the minimum decimal places are 3.
For freefield data:
• F format w and d specifications do not affect how data are read. They only determine the
output formats (expanded, if necessary). 1234 is always read as 1234 in freefield data, but
a specified F5.2 format will be expanded to F6.2 and the value will be displayed as 1234.0
(the last decimal place is rounded because of lack of space).
• The N format, when used for freefield data, is treated as the F format.
• The E format for freefield data follows the same rules as for fixed data except that no
blank space is permitted in the value. Thus, 1.234E3 and 1.234+3 are allowed, but the
value 1.234 3 will cause mistakes when the data are read.
• The default output E format and the width and decimal place limitations are the same as
with fixed data.
COMMA, DOT, DOLLAR, and PCT Formats
Table 4 lists the formats that read and write data with embedded punctuation characters and
symbols, such as commas, dots, and dollar and percent signs. The input data may or may not
contain such characters. The data values read in are stored as numbers but displayed using
the appropriate formats. Other formats that use punctuation characters and symbols are date
and time formats and currency formats. Date and time are discussed in “Date and Time” on
p. 55. Currency formats are output formats only. (See SET and FORMATS.)