A few times recently I've wanted to create a new dataset using only a subset of the variables out of a very large one. Rather than going through and copying and pasting the variables I want, is there syntax to do this? I'm familiar with the 'write outfile' command, but this doesn't seem to save the important variable information, like type of data, value labels, etc.

Seems like this should be easy. Any help?

Hi plr2

You could try the SPSS base menu options Data>Select Cases>Var1=1>Select output-copy selected cases to a new dataset.

A simple syntax equivalent would be DATASET COPY Subset1.
DATASET ACTIVATE Subset1.
FILTER OFF.
USE ALL.
SELECT IF (V1 = 1).
EXECUTE.

==================================

More complex syntax is below


In SPSS>File>New>Syntax and copy the syntax below.

Adapt code to your own variable names.

1. The key changes are to "grpvar" and change values 1 2 3 e.g. to !SplitDataSets 11 12 13/.
2. The key name changes are to "XVar" and "YVar".


/* Created by Analyst Techy 03 Mar 2010

/* 1. Divide the dataset into smaller datasets

/* Splits a dataset up by a grouping variable e.g. grpvar
/* for this syntax to work you have to have a numeric variable named grpvar
/* The grp values are 1, 2,3 within the variable grpvar
/* Assuming a recent version of SPSS
/* Open SPSS sav file before running



DEFINE !SplitDataSets (!POS !CHAREND ('/'))

!DO !gv !IN (!1)

!LET !SepSets = !CONCAT('SepDataSet',!gv)

DATASET COPY !SepSets.
DATASET ACTIVATE !SepSets.
FILTER OFF.
USE ALL.
SELECT IF (grpvar = !gv).
EXECUTE.

!DOEND

!ENDDEFINE.

!SplitDataSets 1 2 3/.

=============================

Even more advanced...

You could adapt the code above and get the PC working for you, but you'd have to use VBA script and set up a cursor to traverse the SPSS dataset. If you are familiar with PL/SQL you probably no what I'm talking about. Please email me for tips on doing this in SPSS.

I'm confused--I don't want to copy some of the cases. I want ALL of the cases. I only want a few of the variables. I want to modify syntax like this:

write outfile= 'K:\NURIUS_R01\RIFP_RRF_papers\PR_MAPSvars.sav'
/id maps1 m1d m1a m1h m1anwoperp m1nstres m1stress (etc).
exe.

But I want a .sav with all of the variable information included for all of the cases. Doesn't seem like the syntax you've provided will do that. Am I missing something?

Hi

Sorry about the delay in getting back to you.

I don't think WRITE OUTFILE is appropriate for what you want to achieve, I use WRITE OUTFILE for creating libraries for macros.
I'd use SAVE OUTFILE instead.

/* In your syntax use-make sure you have the full stop at the end of the code.
SAVE OUTFILE='dito.sav'
/KEEP=id maps etc.