Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2005 23:20:11 -0500
Reply-To: Richard Ristow <wrristow@mindspring.com>
Sender: "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <SPSSX-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From: Richard Ristow <wrristow@mindspring.com>
Subject: Re: SPSS GUI question
In-Reply-To: <4746940.1110575052786.JavaMail.root@beaker.psp.pas.earthli
nk.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
At 04:04 PM 3/11/2005, michael healy wrote:
>When I run analyses, I often find that I use the same sets of IVs and
>DVs. In the GUI, this means that I have to repeatedly go through long
>variable lists to find the variables I want and do stuff like
>command-click. I was wondering if there is a way to group variables
>like an MRSET so that in a variable list, you would see an icon for
>SET_OF_VARS that you could put into a command box instead of the
>individual vars?
As you now know, there isn't. And likely there should be: the SPSS GUI
is far from perfect. But here are two work-arounds. You may or may not
like them; neither gives you quite what you're looking for. Both
involve syntax, but I hope not too much syntax.
A. Get copies of your variable lists:
Type them, if you like; but you may find it easier to click up each
list from the GUI, as part of a command that uses it. Once you've done,
that to keep the list for future use, EITHER paste the command into a
syntax window, instead of running it right away; OR run it, and open
the SPSS journal file and get the variable list from the syntax that's
recorded there.
(You do keep an SPSS journal file, don't you? Everyone should, all the
time. Menu Edit - Options - [tab] General - check "Record syntax in
journal", near the top left of that tab page. Select "Append" rather
than "Overwrite." You'll see the default file name and location. If you
don't like them, click "Browse" in the "Session Journal" section, and
specify a different one. While you're there, make sure that "Open
syntax window at start-up" is checked, further down the same page,
still on the left. It's fine, and useful, to open the journal file in a
syntax window while SPSS is running.)
Open a new syntax window for your variable lists. (Menu File - New -
Syntax.) This should NOT be the 'active' syntax window (the one where
pasted output goes), and when you create it, it will be. Return to the
basic syntax window (Normally named "Syntax1") and make it active by
clicking the red exclamation point at the top.
From window Syntax1 (if you pasted the command), or your journal file
(if you didn't), copy your variable list and paste it in the new syntax
window. Save that window under some suitable name, like "My variable
lists.SPS", so you can keep it between sessions and find it again.
Do this for each of your variable lists. (Don't create a new syntax
window for each; user your "My variable lists.SPS" syntax window for
all of them. And there's no need to create them all at once. Click up
each list for a command, when you need it, but copy the list to "My
variable lists.SPS" when you do.)
B. NOW, you have each of your variable lists as text, in your syntax
window "My variable lists.SPS". There are two ways to use them:
1. Keep "My variable lists.SPS" open while you're working. When you
need to use any list in a command, click up the command, but instead of
the variable list, put in a placeholder, for example just the first
variable on the list. Then paste the command into the active syntax
window (exit the command window by clicking "Paste" rather than
"Continue"). Copy the variable list you need from "My variable
lists.SPS", and paste it into the command in place of the placeholder.
Run the modified command.
2. Make it easier to select your variable lists from the GUI by making
each list contiguous in your file. (For this to help you, select Menu
Edit - Options - [tab] General; and near the upper right of the tab
page, in area "Variable Lists", select "File" rather than
"Alphabetical".)
Load your data file, and "My variable lists.SPS". In the normal syntax
window, Syntax1, type
ADD FILES/FILE=*
/KEEP=<variable list to come first>
<variable list to come second>
<...>
ALL.
Copy and paste the variable lists from "My variable lists.SPS", of
course. Don't forget keyword "ALL" at the end. Then run the command,
and each variable list will be contiguous in the variable list you see
when you click up a command.
Good luck, and happy clicking,
Richard Ristow
