= SPSS Reading Data =

SPSS has a wide variety of commands for reading in external or embedded data.

<<TableOfContents>>

----



== Embedded Data ==

The [[SPSS/DataList|DATA LIST]] command can be used to read data that is listed between '''`BEGIN DATA`''' and '''`END DATA`''' commands.

{{{
data list list / CaseNum (F2) Score (F3).
begin data
1, 10
2, 40
3, 15
4, 10
5, 15
6
7, 25
8, 10
end data.
}}}

----



== Fixed Width Data Files ==

The `GET` command can be used to read fixed-width data contained in an external file.

{{{
get data
  /type=txt
  /file="path/to/data.txt"
  /arrangement=fixed
  /fixcase=1
  /firstcase=2
  /importcase=all
  /variables=
  VAR1 0-2 A
  VAR2 3 F.
}}}

Variables should be specified with start and end column indices and a [[SPSS/DataFormats#Input_and_Output_Formats|format]]. If a variable occupies a single column, just specify the index once.

The [[SPSS/DataList#Fixed|DATA LIST FIXED]] command can also be used for this task.



=== Multi-Record Data ===

If data for a single case is found on multiple records (i.e. multiple lines), try:

{{{
get data
  /type=txt
  /file="path/to/data.txt"
  /arrangement=fixed
  /fixcase=2
  /firstcase=2
  /importcase=all
  /1
  VAR1 0-2 A
  VAR2 3 F
  /2
  VAR3 0-2 A
  VAR4 3 F.
}}}

Note also that the '''`/FIXCASE`''' subcommand is updated to `2`.

----



== Delimited Data Files ==

The `GET` command can be used to read any type of delimited data.

{{{
get data
  /type=txt
  /file="path/to/data.txt"
  /arrangement=delimited
  /delimiters=","
  /firstcase=2
  /importcase=all
  /variables=
  VAR1 A1
  VAR2 F2.
}}}

A [[SPSS/DataFormats#Print_Format|print and write format]] must be specified for each variable. Note however that numeric variables are read irrespective of the width and decimal places. It can still be meaningful to provide a date or time format to ensure accurate value parsing, and string formats must be accurately declared. 

The [[SPSS/DataList#LIST|DATA LIST LIST]] command can also be used for this task.



----
CategoryRicottone