SPSS® 12.0 Command Syntax Reference

Table 1 Output data formats (Continued)
FORMATS 595
Type PRINT Min w Max w Max d
8 q Q yyyy
MOYRw yes 6 40 mmm yy
8 mmm yyyy
WKYRw yes 8 40 ww WK yy
10 ww WK yyyy
WKDAYw yes 2** 40
MONTHw yes 3** 40
TIMEw yes 5†† 40 hh:mm
TIMEw.d yes 10 40 16 hh:mm:ss.s
DTIMEw yes 8†† 40 dd hh:mm
DTIMEw.d yes 13 40 16 dd hh:mm:ss.s
DATETIMEw yes 17†† 40 dd-mmm-yyyy hh:mm
DATETIMEw.d yes 22 40 16 dd-mmm-yyyy hh:mm:ss.s
*Add number of decimals plus 1 if number of decimals is more than 0. Total width cannot exceed 40
characters.
†Must be a multiple of 2.
**As the field width is expanded, the output string is expanded until the entire name of the day or month
is produced.
††Add 3 to display seconds.
Operations
• Unlike most transformations, FORMATS takes effect as soon as it is encountered in the
command sequence. Special attention should be paid to its position among commands. For
more information, see “Command Order” on p. 8.
• Variables not specified on FORMATS retain their current print and write formats in the
working file. To see the current formats, use the DISPLAY command.
• The new formats are changed only in the working file and are in effect for the duration of
the current session or until changed again with a FORMATS, PRINT FORMATS, or WRITE
FORMATS command. Formats in the original data file (if one exists) are not changed unless
the file is resaved with the SAVE or XSAVE command.
• New numeric variables created with transformation commands are assigned default print
and write formats of F8.2 (or the format specified on the FORMAT subcommand of SET).
The FORMATS command can be used to change the new variable’s print and write formats.
• New string variables created with transformation commands are assigned the format specified
on the STRING command that declares the variable. FORMATS cannot be used to
change the format of a new string variable.
• If a numeric data value exceeds its width specification, the program attempts to display
some value nevertheless. The program first rounds decimal values, then removes punctuation
characters, then tries scientific notation, and finally, if there is still not enough space,
produces asterisks indicating that a value is present but cannot be displayed in the assigned
width.