IBM SPSS Essentials, 2nd Edition

Appendix CSummary of Creating and Defining a Data File

1. Determine what information should be stored as words (usually not much) and what information should be stored as numbers (the majority of your information).
2. Develop a “code sheet” identifying how your information will look in SPSS.
3. Activate SPSS and immediately open a “new syntax file” as shown in Figure C.1.
4. Specify your code‐sheet variables in your new syntax file (these will create your empty [but defined] data file) as shown in Figure C.2.
5. Save your syntax file within your organized file system as shown in Figure C.3.
6. Add your variable and value labels as shown in Figures C.4 and C.5.
7. Save your empty data file within your organized file system as shown in Figure C.6.
8. Select all (Ctrl+A) as shown in Figure C.7 and run (with the Play button) your syntax to create an empty (but defined) data file.
9. Enter data into your empty but defined data shell as shown in Figure C.8.
10. Go ahead and save your data file after you've entered data into the empty cells (this is the only time you'll save a data file without doing it within a syntax file – when you have physically entered data).

Figure C.1 Opening new syntax file.

Figure C.2 Creating empty data shell.

Figure C.3 Saving syntax script.

Figure C.4 Adding variable ...