Date:         Thu, 2 Sep 1999 14:12:03 -0400
Reply-To:     "Daley, Henry" <HDaley@DMHMRSAS.STATE.VA.US>
Sender:       "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <SPSSX-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         "Daley, Henry" <HDaley@DMHMRSAS.STATE.VA.US>
Subject:      Re: Changing Variable type
Content-Type: text/plain

With the FORMAT command you can change variable type.

For instance,

FORMAT client_id (F8).

formats a variable as a numeric var with 8 digits.

FORMAT client_id (A8).

formats a variable as a string var with 8 characters.

When you do foramt changes with the drop down menus, the concomitant syntax
should be appearing in your output file.

> ----------
> From:         Harley, Dwight[SMTP:HarleyD@ECS.EDMONTON.AB.CA]
> Reply To:     Harley, Dwight
> Sent:         Thursday, September 02, 1999 9:32 AM
> To:   SPSSX-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject:      Changing Variable type
>
> Given an SPSS data file, is there a way using syntax perhaps, to change
> the
> variable type of a large number of variables?  It is tedious process to
> double click on each variable name and the type button to make this change
> for 20 or 30 variables.
>