SPSS® 12.0 Command Syntax Reference

Example
MATRIX—END MATRIX 941
LOOP LOCATION = 1, NROW(VEC).
+ DO IF (VEC(LOCATION) = TARGET).
+ BREAK.
+ END IF.
END LOOP.
• This loop searches for the (first) location of a specific value, TARGET, in a vector, VEC.
• The DO IF statement checks whether the vector element indexed by LOCATION equals the
target.
• If so, the BREAK statement transfers control out of the loop, leaving LOCATION as the index
of TARGET in VEC.
READ Statement: Reading Character Data
The READ statement reads data into a matrix or submatrix from a character-format file—that
is, a file containing ordinary numbers or words in readable form. The syntax for the READ
statement is:
READ variable reference
[/FILE = file reference]
/FIELD = c1 TO c2 [BY w]
[/SIZE = size expression]
[/MODE = {RECTANGULAR}]
{SYMMETRIC }
[/REREAD]
[/FORMAT = format descriptor]
• The file can contain values in freefield or fixed-column format. The data can appear in
any of the field formats supported by DATA LIST.
• More than one matrix can be read from a single input record by rereading the record.
• If the end of the file is encountered during a READ operation (that is, fewer values are available
than the number of elements required by the specified matrix size), a warning message
is displayed and the contents of the unread elements of the matrix are unpredictable.
Variable Specification
The variable reference on the READ statement is a matrix variable name, with or without
indexes.
For a name without indexes:
• READ creates the specified matrix variable.
• The matrix need not exist when READ is executed.
• If the matrix already exists, it is replaced by the matrix read from the file.
• You must specify the size of the matrix using the SIZE specification.
For an indexed name:
• READ creates a submatrix from an existing matrix.