Eric/Mike,   That problem sounded familiar but I thought I was just imagining it, kinda sounded like I had that scenario last week.   Well, just now, on a different data file the "mysterious 40" appeared again - same behavior that Eric reported - same PASW version and OS.   Here is all I did - ran a selection of syntax that just added value labels, scrolling through the data view also.  As I was scrolling "?" appeared in cells - I usually avoid this by Caching Now, but this time I didn't.  It took a minute but the buffers caught up with my scrolling and actual data or blanks replaced the "?"   Then I saved the file.   If I had to guess, the "mysterious 40" is some sort of caching that doesn't know how to clear itself as you save/close the file.   Eric, should we report this as a bug?  Were you scrolling through the data view?   Regards, George

--- On Tue, 9/8/09, Roberts, Michael <robertsm@ahca.myflorida.com> wrote:

From: Roberts, Michael <robertsm@ahca.myflorida.com> Subject: Re: 40 missing cases at beginning of file??? To: SPSSX-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU Date: Tuesday, September 8, 2009, 10:22 AM

Have you checked your source database?  I have experienced this issue before, and it turned out that our database programmers had some method of adding rows to the database which actually assigned record ids before actually populating them.  Then since these rows appear as legitimate records, SPSS pulled them in.   This may or may not be your problem , but it’s worth a look-see.   HTH   Mike    

From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:SPSSX-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of Eric Langston Sent: Friday, September 04, 2009 3:34 PM To: SPSSX-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU Subject: 40 missing cases at begining of file???   There have been several times that I after working on a file, I find 40 missing cases!  Forty rows with system-missing values / null-strings for all variables.  It’s always exactly 40 and I think they show up at the end of my file.  I usually find it because I try to merge files (via match files) and then after I re-sort the variables, I find 40 missing cases float to the top.   I checked the overall number of cases and it appears that SPSS isn’t deleting any data, but rather appending 40 rows of nothing to the end of the file.   Is anyone else having this problem?   I’m using SPSS v17.0.2 on Windows XP SP3 with all updates.   Thanks     --- Eric Langston Research Analyst Human Capital Research Corporation 500 Davis Street, Suite 1002 Evanston, IL 60201 (847) 475-7580  Phone (847) 475-7584  Fax