Date:         Thu, 7 Dec 2000 14:54:06 -0500
Reply-To:     "Flechet, Jef" <Jef.Flechet@BASES.COM>
Sender:       "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <SPSSX-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         "Flechet, Jef" <Jef.Flechet@BASES.COM>
Subject:      Re: Macros versus Scripts
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Hi Sally,

Although there is no manual for the script it is pretty easy and
straightforward to use. You have all the information you need under the help
file: the description of the different objects, with their method and
properties. If you get into the SPSS Help folder you'll see a scripting
directory. You can find a lot more about scripts there. There are a whole
bunch of PDF files with information about the scripts.

If I could give only one advice about using script it would be to buy an
introduction book to Visual Basic. The language used in the script is called
Sax Basic and is a limited version of VB. If you already know how VB works,
how to handle methods and properties then you can start right away.

There is one thing you should know however: the scripts DO NOT replace the
syntax language in any way. They are complementary. As far as SPSS is
concerned the script can be used to generate syntax. So you'll still need to
know the syntax language. Scripting is really useful if you want to
customize syntax by allowing you to capture some information via a dialog
box. At least that's the primary way I have for it. Although it's not suited
to develop an entire new application it's a nice (and free) alternative to a
VB License.

   HTH

  Jean-Francois





Hi,

I know there have been a lot of nice macros posted on this newsgroup. I
wrote a few macros a couple of years ago.  Then the scripting feature was
added to SPSS.  I was told that scripts could do what macros can do plus
lots more and that the script language would replace the macro language.  So
I decided not to work on learning macros any more, that instead I should
learn to write scripts.  But I feel intimidated by the script language
because there are no manuals.  So far I have not learned anything about
writing scripts!
I'm just wondering what other people think about this confusing situation?
Do some people use both?
                                Thanks,

        Sally
        University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA