As a fairly novice user, Natalie, I am reasonably certain there is not a way (but am curious to find out if I'm right).

I try hard to make sure all my data is complete before computing variables but, invariably I have some cleaning up to do after I've started running stats. To make this easier, I keep my Syntax (instructions in SPSS language) so that I can simply highlight the syntax for the computations that I want, and run them quickly without having to manually go through the menu each time. This ensures I have a record of all the computing that I've done as well.

If you haven't used syntax before, it is as simple as selecting all the steps from the regular menus for computing your new variable, but instead of running it right away, select save to save it as syntax. You will then have a syntax file that you can name and save. I am now comfortable enough with many of the common syntax commands that I just type out the syntax directly rather than go through the menu. Syntax pays off big time when running and rerunning, or when tweaking and playing with multiple databases with the same variables.

To run syntax, simply open your syntax file, highlight the syntax you want to run, right click, and select Run.

HB.

Heather Boyd, B.Sc.(OT), M.Sc., OT Reg. (Ont.) Clinical Specialist Neonatal Follow-up Clinic McMaster Children's Hospital (905) 521-2100 x73764, pager 7113 1200 Main Street West, 1C Hamilton, Ontario L8N 3Z5 boydhe@hhsc.ca

-----Original Message----- From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:SPSSX-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of Natalie Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 2:08 PM To: SPSSX-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU Subject: SPSS Computing help

Is there a way to make SPSS compute variables automatically (as in Excel) as new data is entered? I know there's a way to compute a variable manually through Transform--> Compute, but is there a way to add a computing fomula so that it's not necessary to manually compute data after new one is entered?

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