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IBM SPSS Statistics Syntax & Macro Development

The SPSS Syntax Editor (by default, the name of the new syntax window is SPSS Statistics Syntax Editor). Is divided into 4 areas (or “panes”):

m1

 

Editor Pane

The editor pane is the main part of the syntax editor and it is here where you perform your scripting.

Gutter Pane

The gutter pane is adjacent to the editor pane and displays:

  • line numbers,
  • breakpoint positions,
  • bookmarks,
  • an indicator showing the span of lines in a command and
  • a marker showing which commands were last run

 Navigation Pane

The navigation pane is to the left of the gutter pane and displays a list of all commands in the syntax editor and provides “single click navigation” to any command.

 Error Pane

The error pane is below the editor pane and displays your scripting errors.

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MACRO MAGIC

Once you have bought into the idea that using SPSS Syntax script is preferred (over using the Statistics GUI to repeatedly performing the same tasks), then you will want to take your scripting to the next level and create a MACRO library for your reuse.

Macros most often are small routines of commands that automate one or more tasks to make your work more efficient and easier (using a macro means not having to construct commands each time you need to do a particular analysis or data transformation).

SPSS macros are a bit different from those you may have seen in other tools. Although the SPSS macro facility has its own language, you don’t invoke a “macro editor” to create a macro. An SPSS macro is created like any other syntax script file, using the Syntax Editor (you just need to use the DEFINE function!).

So, as an exercise, I originally created a syntax file that opened a data file and ran FREQUENCIES and CROSSTABS against the file.  Since (in my made-up world) I have to rerun this script against multiple data files (and since I’m a lazy programmer), I don’t really want to rerun the script for each different file. So the answer is to create a MACRO that will run the commands on a “dynamic” (or “to be defined at runtime) data file name.

Here is my code. Notice that I used the DEFINE and !END DEFINE commands to “define” my new MACRO (named JIMSSPAMPLEMACRO) and also note that I defined a single parameter (or TOKEN) to be “passed in” to the MACRO at run-time. This will be the name of the dataset:

m2

Once run this SYNTAX script (and save the file to my script library) the new MACRO is defined! Now I can go ahead and write a simple script to run the MACRO as many times as I want, with different file names. Here I want to run the MACRO 2 times (1 for each file).

This works just fine – you just need to add the INCLUDE FILE at the top of the script to reference the defined MACRO.

m3

After I run this script, the Viewer shows the output as:

m5 m6 m7

(and then repeated for the 2nd file):

m6m7

Very cool! The next exercise will be to create a more interesting MACRO to add to my ever-growing Syntax script library!

 

Have a great weekend.

 

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Jim Miller

Mr. Miller is an IBM certified and accomplished Senior Project Leader and Application/System Architect-Developer with over 30 years of extensive applications and system design and development experience. His current role is National FPM Practice Leader. His experience includes BI, Web architecture & design, systems analysis, GUI design and testing, Database modeling and systems analysis, design, and development of Client/Server, Web and Mainframe applications and systems utilizing: Applix TM1 (including TM1 rules, TI, TM1Web and Planning Manager), dynaSight - ArcPlan, ASP, DHTML, XML, IIS, MS Visual Basic and VBA, Visual Studio, PERL, Websuite, MS SQL Server, ORACLE, SYBASE SQL Server, etc. His Responsibilities have included all aspects of Windows and SQL solution development and design including: analysis; GUI (and Web site) design; data modeling; table, screen/form and script development; SQL (and remote stored procedures and triggers) development and testing; test preparation and management and training of programming staff. Other experience includes development of ETL infrastructure such as data transfer automation between mainframe (DB2, Lawson, Great Plains, etc.) systems and client/server SQL server and Web based applications and integration of enterprise applications and data sources. In addition, Mr. Miller has acted as Internet Applications Development Manager responsible for the design, development, QA and delivery of multiple Web Sites including online trading applications, warehouse process control and scheduling systems and administrative and control applications. Mr. Miller also was responsible for the design, development and administration of a Web based financial reporting system for a 450 million dollar organization, reporting directly to the CFO and his executive team. Mr. Miller has also been responsible for managing and directing multiple resources in various management roles including project and team leader, lead developer and applications development director. Specialties Include: Cognos/TM1 Design and Development, Cognos Planning, IBM SPSS and Modeler, OLAP, Visual Basic, SQL Server, Forecasting and Planning; International Application Development, Business Intelligence, Project Development. IBM Certified Developer - Cognos TM1 (perfect score 100% on exam) IBM Certified Business Analyst - Cognos TM1

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