9/18/2014

04/21/23 Slide 1

Using SPSS Syntax/Script Files - 1

The link to SPSS Script and Syntax Files is on the Course Materials web page.

In order to run my SPSS Python syntax files on your computer, you will need to install:

• Python 2.5 which comes on the SPSS installation disk;

• the SPSS 17.0 for Windows Python Plug-in which should also be on the installation disk (be sure you match the version of the Plug-in to the version of SPSS (PASW).

Accept the default installation for all programs

04/21/23 Slide 2

Using SPSS Syntax/Script Files - 2

Right click on the link to the file HistogramBoxplot.sps and select Save Link As from the popup menu.

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Using SPSS Syntax/Script Files - 3

With a data set already open in SPSS, select the Open > Syntax command from the File menu.

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Using SPSS Syntax/Script Files - 4

Open the file which you just downloaded to your computer.

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Using SPSS Syntax/Script Files - 5

With the program file open, select All from the Run menu.

The text in the program file will flash blue and the commands will be processed by SPSS.

04/21/23 Slide 6

Using SPSS Syntax/Script Files - 6

When the syntax file is run, two things happen.

First, the commands in the syntax file are written to the Log in the Output viewer. This can be useful if an error occurs, but most of the time it is a nuisance. I will show you how to turn this off at the end of this power point.

Second, a dialog box appears in which you will specify the output you want.

Highlight the variable you want to analyze, mark one of the options for re-expression if desired, and click on the Run button.

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Using SPSS Syntax/Script Files - 7

The program file will produce a table of descriptive statistics to use in describing the distribution.

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Using SPSS Syntax/Script Files - 8

The program file will produce a histogram overlaid with a normal curve and a boxplot.

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Using SPSS Syntax/Script Files - 9

The dialog box should stay available until you close it.

To produce more output, select new options and click on the Run button.

To close the dialog, click on the red close box at the top of the dialog.

04/21/23 Slide 10

Stopping Printing Commands to Log File - 1

To eliminate printing of syntax commands in the log file, select Options from the Edit menu.

Note this will turn off All printing of commands to the log file, whether they are issued through the menus or through syntax files.

04/21/23 Slide 11

Stopping Printing Commands to Log File - 2

First, click on the Viewer tab to select it.

Second, clear the checkbox Display commands in the log.

Third, click on the Apply button to apply the option, and click on the OK button to close the dialog.