SPSS Star Join

The STAR JOIN command is a SQL-like left join.

STAR JOIN is unsupported in SPSS version 20 or earlier, and completely unimplemented in PSPP.

Contents

SPSS Star Join
1. Usage
  1. From, Join, Outfile File
2. Data Model

Usage

star join
  /select A.foo, A.bar, A.baz,
   B.ham, C.spam
  /from datasetA as A
  /join datasetB as B
   on A.idB = B.id
  /join datasetC as C
   on A.id = C.id and A.group = C.group
  /outfile file=datasetD.

Datasets are joined in pairs, between the /FROM dataset and each /JOIN dataset. Each pair-wise join can be done on different key variables.

Within each pair-wise join, the key variables must be defined with the same type in each dataset. Cases must be uniquely identified by the key variables in each dataset.

While multiple key variables can be used, note that the only valid operators for the ON expression are AND and =.

Only cases originating in the /FROM dataset are retained. Only variables specified on the /SELECT subcommand are retained.

From, Join, Outfile File

The /FROM subcommand, each /JOIN subcommand, and the /OUTFILE FILE subcommand all take one of:

a star (*) indicating the active data set
the name of a data set
a filename or file handle

The subcommands allow for aliases that are valid syntax in other parts throughout the command. These aliases must be unique and are bound by the same restrictions as variable names. If a single dataset is referenced on multiple /JOIN subcommands, they must define unique aliases.

Data Model

The STAR JOIN command executes immediately, and reads the active dataset. Any pending transformations are executed first.

CategoryRicottone