=========================================================================
Date:         Wed, 12 Jul 2006 09:30:55 -0400
Reply-To:     Statisticsdoc <statisticsdoc@cox.net>
Sender:       "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <SPSSX-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Statisticsdoc <statisticsdoc@cox.net>
Subject:      Re: Multiple line syntax comments
Comments: To: james.moffitt@thomson.com
In-Reply-To:  <945D579F76FD5741A043511E6FE99B570A0C9BE4@TLRUSMNEAGMBX32.ERF.THOMSON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Stephen Brand
www.statisticsdoc.com

Richard -

A great deal of good advice has been given on this topic - let me just add a
side note.  Richard's point about using an asterisk to start each line of a
comment is sound advice.  I would also suggest making a habit of leaving a
blank line after the comment in case the ending period is omitted.  For
example, the recode statement in the following example will take effect:

*  OOPS I forgot the period before an important recode statement

RECODE THISVAR (1 2 = 9) .


However, in the following example, SPSS reads the recode statement as a part
of the comment, and does not execute it.

*  OOPS I forgot the period before an important recode statement
RECODE THISVAR (1 2 = 9) .

Just my five cents,

Stephen Brand


For personalized and professional consultation in statistics and research
design, visit
www.statisticsdoc.com


-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:SPSSX-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU]On Behalf Of
Jim Moffitt
Sent: Tuesday, July 11, 2006 4:34 PM
To: SPSSX-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: Multiple line syntax comments


Sorry about the simple question, but I can't find an answer in any of my
SPSS books.

If I want to extend a comment in a syntax window to multiple lines must
I each new line with an asterisk?

I've tried beginning the first line with an asterisk and indenting the
subsequent lines, but I get error messages.