Date:         Wed, 5 May 1999 13:46:18 -0400
Reply-To:     mjmallen@boombox.micro.umn.edu
Sender:       "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <SPSSX-L@UGA.CC.UGA.EDU>
From:         Michael Mallen <mjmallen@BOOMBOX.MICRO.UMN.EDU>
Subject:      Matching
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Case control study design.  Would like to match over 1000 index cases to
controls (ratio index/control, 1/2) using the following routine:
 
COMMENT Match 734; Last name, first; 55.8 yrs, sex=1.
SORT CASES by sex age.
TEMPORARY.
SELECT IF
  (sex=1 and (age ge 55.8 and age le 55.9)).
LIST VARIABLES=mrnum.
 
The above simple routine will print a hard copy of all available matches,
however, I need something slightly more sophisticated. My data set has
several thousand records and I would like to either 'flag' matching records
for latter manipulation or print matching med record numbers (mrnum) to
file.
 
Ideally, I would like to designate a specific number of matches to
accept...ie if 10 matches hit, then accept only 2 (example; first and last).
 Can you refer me to possible code.  I have checked all available help
screens to no avail.  Have you ever run into this type of issue?  ANY
suggestions welcome.
 
THANKS in advance for considering this problem.