SPSS® 12.0 Command Syntax Reference

MCONVERT
MCONVERT [[/MATRIX=] [IN({* })] [OUT({* })]]
{file} {file}
[{/REPLACE}]
{/APPEND }
Example
MCONVERT MATRIX=OUT(CORMTX) /APPEND.
Overview
Options
MCONVERT converts covariance matrix materials to correlation matrix materials, or vice
versa. For MCONVERT to convert a correlation matrix, the matrix data must contain CORR
values (Pearson correlation coefficients) and a vector of standard deviations (STDDEV).
For MCONVERT to convert a covariance matrix, only COV values are required in the data.
Matrix Files. MCONVERT can read matrix materials from an external matrix data file, and it
can write converted matrix materials to an external file.
Matrix Materials. MCONVERT can write the converted matrix only or both the converted
matrix and the original matrix to the resulting matrix data file.
Basic Specification
The minimum specification is the command itself. By default, MCONVERT reads the original
matrix from the working data file and then replaces it with the converted matrix.
Syntax Rules
• The keywords IN and OUT cannot specify the same external file.
• The APPEND and REPLACE subcommands cannot be specified on the same MCONVERT
command.
Operations
• If the data are covariance matrix materials, MCONVERT converts them to a correlation
matrix plus a vector of standard deviations.
• If the data are a correlation matrix and vector of standard deviations, MCONVERT converts
them to a covariance matrix.
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