This is the best suggestion yet -- it's simple, and it works. Thanks, Frank.

I noticed that SKIP = {n} is shown in the PDF file as part of the DATA LIST syntax, but it's never explained.

Thanks to everybody who responded on this, especially those who responded several times. Even though I'm back to my original DATA LIST approach, I did try the GET DATA and INPUT PROGRAM approaches -- my first time for both of these -- and I learned quite a bit. It's the best way to learn.

-- Tom

-----Original Message----- From: Frank Milthorpe [mailto:Frank.Milthorpe@TRANSPORT.NSW.GOV.AU] Sent: Thursday, July 24, 2003 12:34 AM To: SPSSX-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU Subject: Re: How to deal with "junk" lines in raw data file

Here is an alternative approach extending the suggestion from Richard Ristow <wrristow@mindspring.com>.

If you use the DATA LIST command, you can say how lines of data are skipped! See example below skipping 5 lines.

DATA LIST SKIP = 5 LIST (",") / var1, var2 .

BEGIN DATA A /* The first 5 records are skipped B C D E 1,11 2,22 3,33 4,44, 5,55 END DATA.

LIST.

Regards

Frank Milthorpe

-------------------------------------------- Frank Milthorpe Transport Modelling Manager Transport Data Centre Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources GPO Box 1620, Sydney NSW 2001 Level 17, 227 Elizabeth St, Sydney Tel: +61 2 9268 2937 Fax: +61 2 9268 2853 Email: frank.milthorpe@transport.nsw.gov.au

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