Date:         Mon, 25 Nov 2002 08:49:33 -0600
Reply-To:     Stefan Gildemeister <Stefan.Gildemeister@state.mn.us>
Sender:       "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <SPSSX-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Stefan Gildemeister <Stefan.Gildemeister@state.mn.us>
Subject:      string to numeric to string
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

This is a relatively elementary problem, but the direction in the syntax
guide does appear somewhat contradictory.  I have numbers stored as
string and I'd like to convert them into a numeric format without having
to recode each string value to its appropriete numeric value.

One way is to just turn the "type" switch in the variable view.  This
works but is crude and it seemingly cannot be done in syntax.  Issuing
the "number" command gives me an error message:
>Warning # 3240.  Command name: NUMBER
>NUMBERED This command is no longer supported.

Any thought would be greatly appreciated, especially, if it also
contained a way to turn a numeric format into a string.  Thanks,


Stefan Gildemeister
Research Scientist/Economist.
MN Department of Health - Health Economics
121 East Seventh Place, Suite 400
St. Paul, MN 55101
phone:  651.282.6346
fax:  651-282-5628
e-mail:  Stefan.Gildemeister@health.state.mn.us
web:  www.health.state.mn.us
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