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SPSS® 12.0 Command Syntax Reference

SPSS® 12.0 Command Syntax Reference

SPSS® 12.0 Command Syntax Reference

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MATCH FILES 907<br />

cators. The new file also contains the documents from each of the input files. See DROP<br />

DOCUMENTS for information on deleting documents.<br />

• Variables are copied in order from the first file specified, then from the second file specified,<br />

and so on.<br />

• If the same variable name is used in more than one input file, data are taken from the file<br />

specified first. Dictionary information is taken from the first file containing value labels,<br />

missing values, or a variable label for the common variable. If the first file has no such<br />

information, MATCH FILES checks the second file, and so on, seeking dictionary<br />

information.<br />

• All cases from all input files are included in the combined file. Cases that are absent from<br />

one of the input files will be assigned system-missing values for variables unique to that file.<br />

• BY specifies that cases should be combined according to a common value on one or more<br />

key variables. All input files must be sorted in ascending order of the key variables.<br />

• If BY is not used, the program performs a parallel (sequential) match, combining the first<br />

case from each file, then the second case from each file, and so on, without regard to any<br />

identifying values that may be present.<br />

• If the working file is named as an input file, any N and SAMPLE commands that have been<br />

specified are applied to that file before files are matched.<br />

Limitations<br />

Example<br />

• Maximum 50 files can be combined on one MATCH FILES command.<br />

• Maximum one BY subcommand. However, BY can specify multiple variables.<br />

• The TEMPORARY command cannot be in effect if the working data file is used as an input file.<br />

MATCH FILES FILE=PART1 /FILE=PART2 /FILE=*.<br />

• MATCH FILES combines three files (the working data file and two SPSS-format data files)<br />

in a parallel match. Cases are combined according to their order in each file.<br />

• The new working data file contains as many cases as are contained in the largest of the<br />

three input files.<br />

FILE Subcommand<br />

FILE identifies the files to be combined (except table files). At least one FILE subcommand<br />

is required on MATCH FILES. A separate FILE subcommand must be used for each input file.<br />

• An asterisk can be specified on FILE to refer to the working data file.<br />

• The order in which files are specified determines the order of variables in the new<br />

working file. In addition, if the same variable name occurs in more than one input file,<br />

the variable is taken from the file specified first.

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