SPSS® 12.0 Command Syntax Reference

Example
* A grouped file of student test scores.
FILE TYPE GROUPED RECORD=#TEST 6 CASE=STUDENT 1-4.
RECORD TYPE 1.
DATA LIST /ENGLISH 8-9 (A).
RECORD TYPE 2.
DATA LIST /READING 8-10.
RECORD TYPE 3.
DATA LIST /MATH 8-10.
END FILE TYPE.
FILE TYPE—END FILE TYPE 571
BEGIN DATA
0001 1 B+
0001 2 74
0001 3 83
0002 1 A
0002 2 100
0002 3 71
0003 1 B-
0003 2 88
0003 3 81
0004 1 C
0004 2 94
0004 3 91
END DATA.
• FILE TYPE identifies the file as a grouped file. As required for grouped files, all records
for a single case are together in the data. The record identification variable #TEST is
located in column 6. A scratch variable is specified so it won’t be saved in the working
data file. The case identification variable STUDENT is located in columns 1–4.
• Because there are three record types, there are three RECORD TYPE commands. For each
RECORD TYPE, there is a DATA LIST to define variables on that record type.
• END FILE TYPE signals the end of file definition.
• The program builds four cases—one for each student. Each case includes the case identification
variable plus the variables defined for each record type (the test scores). The
values for #TEST are not saved in the working data file. Thus, each case in the working
file has four variables: STUDENT, ENGLISH, READING, and MATH.