SPSS® 12.0 Command Syntax Reference

778 INPUT PROGRAM—END INPUT PROGRAM
Input State
data, the working file dictionary is ready, and the programs that construct and modify the cases
in the working file are built.
The internal input program is usually built from either a single DATA LIST command or
from any of the commands that read or combine SPSS-format data files (for example, GET,
ADD FILES, MATCH FILES, UPDATE, and so on). The input program can also be built from the
FILE TYPE—END FILE TYPE structure used to define nested, mixed, or grouped files. The
third type of input program is specified with the INPUT PROGRAM—END INPUT PROGRAM
commands.
With INPUT PROGRAM—END INPUT PROGRAM, you can create your own input program
to perform many different operations on raw data. You can use transformation commands to
build cases. You can read nonrectangular files, concatenate raw data files, and build cases
selectively. You can also create a working data file without reading any data at all.
There are four program states in the program: the initial state, in which there is no working
file dictionary; the input state, in which cases are created from the input file; the transformation
state, in which cases are transformed; and the procedure state, in which procedures are
executed. When you specify INPUT PROGRAM—END INPUT PROGRAM, you must pay attention
to which commands are allowed within the input state, which commands can appear only
within the input state, and which are not allowed within the input state. See Appendix A for a
discussion of program states, command order, and a table that describes what happens to each
command when it is encountered in each of the four states.
Basic Specification
The basic specification is INPUT PROGRAM, the commands used to create cases and define
the working data file, and END INPUT PROGRAM.
• INPUT PROGRAM and END INPUT PROGRAM each must be specified on a separate line
and have no additional specifications.
• To define a working data file, the input program must include at least one DATA LIST or
END FILE command.
Operations
• The INPUT PROGRAM—END INPUT PROGRAM structure defines a working data file and
is not executed until the program encounters a procedure or the EXECUTE command.
• INPUT PROGRAM clears the current working data file.