One of the most tedious aspects of using point-and-click is when you have hundreds or thousands of variables and have to hunt around using the very small variable selection box. (The worst in my experience is something like a paired t-test where they have to be entered in pairs even though they may be widely separated in the variable list). I would like to see as standard in the variable selection process:

- resorting the list on the fly (between file order and alpha order) - typing a character takes you to the next occurrence of a variable starting with that character. - a resizable variable list

Any chance in a future version of SPSS?

At 05:23 a.m. 24/11/2005, Peck, Jon wrote: >And remember that with the pasted syntax, F1 or the corresponding >toolbar icon will bring up brief syntax help on the command where >the cursor is. > >Jon Peck >SPSS > >-----Original Message----- >From: SPSSX(r) Discussion on behalf of Granaas, Michael >Sent: Wed 11/23/2005 8:36 AM >To: SPSSX-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU >Subject: Re: [SPSSX-L] spss syntax > >What I have done is after going through the point and click to set >up my analysis I click on "paste" rather than "ok". This appends >the syntax for the analysis to a syntax file. The meaning of most >lines of syntax are self-evident. For those that aren't, I have a >copy of the syntax manuals that I can read. > >Between these two I've done well learning the syntax that I need to >know for the work I do. > >Michael >**************************************************** >Michael Granaas mgranaas@usd.edu >Assoc. Prof. Phone: 605 677 5295 >Dept. of Psychology FAX: 605 677 3195 >University of South Dakota >414 E. Clark St. >Vermillion, SD 57069 >***************************************************** > > > > >-----Original Message----- >From: SPSSX(r) Discussion on behalf of Samuel Solomon >Sent: Wed 11/23/05 7:36 AM >To: SPSSX-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU >Subject: spss syntax > >Hello, > > I feel bad to ask you this strange question but I need it >badly. I would like you to help me how I could learn fast on writing >spss syntax because I found the "point and click" tedious to proceed. > > > >Samuel