Hi,

Before using COUNT, you could convert the string variables to their numerical equivalent using the NUMBER function. compute new = number(old, f5).

Cheers!! Albert-Jan

--- On Tue, 7/15/08, D.R. Wahlgren <dwahlgren@projects.sdsu.edu> wrote:

> From: D.R. Wahlgren <dwahlgren@projects.sdsu.edu> > Subject: Re: Search for a value in all variables? > To: SPSSX-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU > Date: Tuesday, July 15, 2008, 6:52 PM > At 11:42 AM -0500 7/15/08, Peck, Jon wrote: > >Try the count command and use ALL or x TO y to specify > the variables to check. > > Thanks, Jon. Will this work with string variables included > in the > range? Can I specify (-8 or "-8") for the values > to be counted? > > thanks! > Dennis > > > > >------Original Message------ > >From: D.R. Wahlgren > >To: SPSSX-L > >ReplyTo: D.R. Wahlgren > >Sent: Jul 15, 2008 2:28 AM > >Subject: [SPSSX-L] Search for a value in all > variables? > > > >Gang, > >Is there a way to search for a specific value on *all* > variables in a > >data set without naming every variable in the syntax > commands? For > >example, if I want to locate every instance of a -8 > (our code for a > >refusal) across all 500+ variables in my data set, how > would I go > >about it? > > > >I'd like to do two things: 1) identify the case and > variable for each > >instance of a -8, and 2) create a new variable that > simply flags the > >presence of at least one -8 on the case with a > dichotomous (0/1) > >variable. > > > >Oh, and to complicate it just a bit more, a small > number of the > >variables are string. If they could be included in the > search, that > >would be great, but I would be ok with omitting them > from this search > >if there was a relatively simple way to do it (I'd > rather not have to > >name them all on a DROP subcommand but will if > necessary.) > > > >I'm using v16 for Mac. > > > >thanks, > >Dennis > > ===================== > To manage your subscription to SPSSX-L, send a message to > LISTSERV@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU (not to SPSSX-L), with no body > text except the > command. To leave the list, send the command > SIGNOFF SPSSX-L > For a list of commands to manage subscriptions, send the > command > INFO REFCARD

===================== To manage your subscription to SPSSX-L, send a message to LISTSERV@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU (not to SPSSX-L), with no body text except the command. To leave the list, send the command SIGNOFF SPSSX-L For a list of commands to manage subscriptions, send the command INFO REFCARD