Hi Pat,

If I understand your question well, you should apply an aggregate command:

1) Organize your data so that you have one file and one row for one visit in it. Variables are ID and return_v .

2) Aggregate using SUM function:

AGGREGATE /OUTFILE='C:\my_data\aggr.sav' /BREAK=ID /visit_n 'Return visits' = SUM(return_v).

You can invoke it from menu Data in SPSS Data Editor.

Greetings

Jan

-----Original Message----- From: Kamau, Patrick [mailto:Pkamau@cdcnairobi.mimcom.net] Sent: Monday, April 19, 2004 11:49 AM To: SPSSX-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU Subject: Increasing a variable

I have a variable called 'return visits' that takes care of clients who have come for another visit. For the initial visit, return visit=0 and subsequent returns visits=1.

My problem is, some clients have had more than two 'return visits', so I would like to have increasing numbers showing the real return, using the date or month, i.e. First visit =0 Second visit =1 Third visit =2 etc. Your help will be appreciated.

Pat kamau.