SPSS Statistics for Dummies, 3rd Edition

Chapter 20

Getting Acquainted with Syntax

In This Chapter

Learning about the Paste button

Labeling with Syntax

Performing calculations with Syntax

Dealing with repetitive operations more efficiently

Opening and saving files

Almost everything that happens in SPSS is the result of Command Syntax running behind the scenes. Whenever you use the menu to specify a set of options and then click OK, Command Syntax is generated and executed. You’ve seen examples of the Command Syntax language — Syntax, for short — appearing at the top of the SPSS Statistics Viewer window every time a command runs. The Help menu has the Command Syntax Reference, which is a real door stopper at more than 2,000 pages. Don’t try reading that until you read this chapter and the next one. This chapter describes some language fundamentals and explains why it’s helpful. The next chapter gets into more of the details.

So, why use Syntax? First, it’s a lot easier than you might think, but no tip or trick in SPSS is worth ...