SPSS VarsToCases

The VARSTOCASES command translates a wide dataset into long format. See also CASESTOVARS.

Usage

varstocases
  /make Sales from Sales.1 to Sales.4.

For each variable listed after FROM, a new row of data is created with that variable's value set instead into the /MAKE variable. All other variables are duplicated for each created row of data.

Id

The /ID subcommand creates a numeric variable storing the $casenum on the original, wide dataset. If the dataset already has an ID variable, it will automatically be duplicated to each created row of data, and the /ID subcommand won't offer any significant advantage over this.

Index

The /INDEX subcommand creates an index variable marking a created row's sequence within its group. This index variable will have an F8.0 format.

varstocases
  /make Sales from Sales.1 to Sales.4
  /index=fiscalquarter.

To create an index variable that instead stores the string name of the source variable variable, try:

varstocases
  /make Sales from Sales.1 to Sales.4
  /index=fiscalquarter (Sales).

Null

By default, SPSS will not create a row for missing values found on the /MAKE subcommand's FROM list. Add the /NULL=DROP subcommand to explicitly allow this behavior, or add the /NULL=KEEP subcommand to disable it.

Data Model

The VARSTOCASES command recognizes SPLIT FILE and WEIGHT statuses and preserves them, unless the relevant variables are used on a /DROP or /MAKE subcommand.

The VARSTOCASES command does not recognize FILTER status.

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