Date:         Tue, 13 May 2003 09:39:46 +0200
Reply-To:     lars.h.johansson@vattenfall.com
Sender:       "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <SPSSX-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         L Johansson <lars.h.johansson@vattenfall.com>
Subject:      Altering data files while importing them
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Top o' the morning y'all,

I realize this is a fairly big question but I wonder if it is possible to
write a script that will take
care of the entire process of opening a new data file and formatting it.
I.e., what I'd like to achieve
is for SPSS to 'automatically' give variables with certain names a
pre-defined type and length.
For instance, the variable 'Sex' should always be imported as string
accepting six characters.

However, the data files in tab separated ASCII format that I have to import
are far from identical.
The variables they contain vary from case to case. So what I'm visualizing
is some sort of
'global' script, one that I can use for all files. It should define and
alter variables that exist in
each individual file and ignore instructions that concern variables that are
non-existent.

I hope what I've written makes sense.

Before I get really started on this I'd like to know if I'd be wasting my
time. Any input is welcome.
In short, do you think SPSS will support this?

Thanks a bunch in advance.

Kind Regards,
Lars Johansson