SPSS® 12.0 Command Syntax Reference

MCONVERT 979
• MATRIX=IN cannot be specified unless a working data file has already been defined. To
convert an existing matrix at the beginning of a session, use GET to retrieve the matrix file
and then specify IN(*) on MATRIX.
IN The matrix file to read.
OUT The matrix file to write.
Example
GET FILE=COVMTX.
MCONVERT MATRIX=OUT(CORMTX).
• GET retrieves the SPSS-format matrix data file COVMTX. COVMTX becomes the working
data file.
• By default, MCONVERT reads the original matrix from the working data file. IN(*) can be
specified to make the default explicit.
• The keyword OUT on MATRIX writes the converted matrix to file CORMTX.
REPLACE and APPEND Subcommands
By default, MCONVERT writes only the converted matrix to the resulting matrix file. Use
APPEND to copy both the original matrix and the converted matrix.
• The only specification is the keyword REPLACE or APPEND.
• REPLACE and APPEND are alternatives.
• REPLACE and APPEND affect the resulting matrix file only. The original matrix materials,
whether in the working file or in an external file, remain intact.
APPEND Write the original matrix followed by the converted matrix to the matrix file.
If there are multiple sets of matrix materials, APPEND appends each converted
matrix to the end of a copy of its original matrix.
REPLACE Write the original matrix followed by the covariance matrix to the matrix file.
Example
MCONVERT MATRIX=OUT(COVMTX) /APPEND.
• MCONVERT reads matrix materials from the working file.
• The APPEND subcommand copies original matrix materials, appends each converted
matrix to the end of the copy of its original matrix, and writes both sets to the file COVMTX.