Date:         Mon, 13 Mar 2000 19:10:52 +0200
Reply-To:     Sorin Sion <Sorin.Sion@CONNEX.RO>
Sender:       "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <SPSSX-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Sorin Sion <Sorin.Sion@CONNEX.RO>
Subject:      "DOS commands in a syntax file?" strikes back
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Hi again!

I want more...
Actually, I tried to solve the problem with a DOS batch file like this:

cd "C:\My Documents\"
UNZIP Source1.ZIP
:LABEL1
choice /c:ync /t:c,30                  ; wait 30 seconds
if not exist READY.SAV goto LABEL1     ;cycle 'till the "flag" file is
generated
del Source1.SAV
del Temp1.SAV
del Temp2.SAV
choice /c:ync /t:c,30                  ;allow some time to avoid sharing
violation errors
del READY.SAV

The syntax file generates the two files needed to compose the final file
and, at the end of the procedure, it selects some cases from the final file
and saves the READY.SAV file.
The batch file, running in the background, senses the presence of this
"flag" file and deletes the unzipped file and the two temporary files. There
are 6 sequences like this in my DOS batch file, for 6 different zipped
files.
Given that my unzipped files are ususally 500megs big and the complexity of
the script, I often run the procedure during nights or weekends. The problem
is that sometimes this batch file works, sometimes not, I don't know why.
I may find the first and the last of the unzipped files processed ok, but
the middle ones missing, or different other situations.

Now, I think that by avoiding this "daemon" scheme, I'll have 100% succes in
processing all this files. But I can do this only if I SPSS knows to execute
the syntax AFTER the initial file is unzipped.
I'll be happy to try this with a SPSS script but I am not shure with my
knowledge in this...

Thank you a lot

      Sorin  SION
Market Research Analyst
MobiFon S.A. -  ROMANIA
 GSM:  (+4)092.628.309
 Tel:  (+401)302.18.15
 Fax:  (+401)302.14.63