Date:         Tue, 20 Apr 2004 08:33:15 +0200
Reply-To:     Spousta Jan <JSpousta@CSAS.cz>
Sender:       "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <SPSSX-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Spousta Jan <JSpousta@CSAS.cz>
Subject:      Re: Combining Existing Variables to Create a New Variable
Comments: To: "g.lafrance@rogers.com" <g.lafrance@rogers.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Hi Glenys,

string newvar (A1).
compute newvar = qb.
if (qa = 'Y') newvar = 'Y'.
execute.

provided you have variables qa and qb as strings (syntax not tested, but I hope it will run). Execute command is not needed if you run another commants after that.

HTH

Jan

-----Original Message-----
From: Glenys Lafrance [mailto:g.lafrance@rogers.com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2004 7:23 AM
To: SPSSX-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: Combining Existing Variables to Create a New Variable


Hi.  I am a graduate student working on a research project.  If my questions are too elementary for your group, please redirect me to other more appropriate sources.

I want to create a new variable from 2 existing ones.  If the response to Question A = Y, then New Variable = Y, otherwise use the response for Question B.  Can I use the Recode or Compute functions do achieve this?  If so, how?  Or do I have to program it?

I can do it using Excel and copy the results into the SPSS data table but it seems inefficient.

Thanks,

Glenys Lafrance