Help with Compute Variable problem

[tara.dennehy]

Hello,

I am encountering an error using the "Compute Variable" function.  When I am
computing a variable using less than 10 variables, it works.  However, as
soon as I try to compute a variable using more variables (and I need to
create 10 variables computed from 40 variables each and 40 variables
computed from 20 variables each), SPSS says "EXECUTE" (no error messages or
anything) but doesn't do anything.  It does not list the command like it
normally does either.  I tried entering the command as syntax, but I
apparently do not have a python plug-in (which it says I need; my disks are
very elsewhere).  I am working on a Mac with SPSS 16 if that makes a difference.

I have been working on ways around this problem all day, and I have a
meeting in about 2 hours [although the request for advice does not expire
then] with my professor (yes, I'm a grad student) to go over findings.  If
anyone has any magical inspiration regarding this problem (I've tried
aggregating to require less computing oomph, rebooting, saving as variables,
etc.) I would really appreciate your help.  Or if you happen to know that
this is just a limitation of the program, I would appreciate that insight as
well.

Thank you!

Best,
Tara.

P.S.  New to the listserv, so I apologize if I posted incorrectly.

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[David Marso]

Tara,
A tiny bit of detail WRT what you are actually doing would be useful.
Other than that you don't need any Python Plugin for standard usage.
"I need to
>create 10 variables computed from 40 variables each and 40 variables
>computed from 20 variables each"
Specifically???
"I tried entering the command as syntax".
Spending a few seconds to have pasted the syntax might have led to your
receiving a useful response.  Try again.
"If anyone has any magical inspiration regarding this problem (I've tried
aggregating to require less computing oomph, rebooting, saving as
variables,"....
ROFLMAO!



On Sun, 5 Jul 2009 19:43:53 -0400, Tara C. Dennehy
<tdennehy.psych@...> wrote:

>Hello,
>
>I am encountering an error using the "Compute Variable" function.  When I am
>computing a variable using less than 10 variables, it works.  However, as
>soon as I try to compute a variable using more variables (and I need to
>create 10 variables computed from 40 variables each and 40 variables
>computed from 20 variables each), SPSS says "EXECUTE" (no error messages or
>anything) but doesn't do anything.  It does not list the command like it
>normally does either.  I tried entering the command as syntax, but I
>apparently do not have a python plug-in (which it says I need; my disks are
>very elsewhere).  I am working on a Mac with SPSS 16 if that makes a

difference.

>
>I have been working on ways around this problem all day, and I have a
>meeting in about 2 hours [although the request for advice does not expire
>then] with my professor (yes, I'm a grad student) to go over findings.  If
>anyone has any magical inspiration regarding this problem (I've tried
>aggregating to require less computing oomph, rebooting, saving as variables,
>etc.) I would really appreciate your help.  Or if you happen to know that
>this is just a limitation of the program, I would appreciate that insight as
>well.
>
>Thank you!
>
>Best,
>Tara.
>
>P.S.  New to the listserv, so I apologize if I posted incorrectly.
>
>=====================
>To manage your subscription to SPSSX-L, send a message to
>LISTSERV@... (not to SPSSX-L), with no body text except the
>command. To leave the list, send the command
>SIGNOFF SPSSX-L
>For a list of commands to manage subscriptions, send the command
>INFO REFCARD

=====================
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LISTSERV@... (not to SPSSX-L), with no body text except the
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[Bruce Weaver]

David Marso wrote:

Tara,
A tiny bit of detail WRT what you are actually doing would be useful.
Other than that you don't need any Python Plugin for standard usage.
"I need to
>create 10 variables computed from 40 variables each and 40 variables
>computed from 20 variables each"
Specifically???
"I tried entering the command as syntax".
Spending a few seconds to have pasted the syntax might have led to your
receiving a useful response.  Try again.
"If anyone has any magical inspiration regarding this problem (I've tried
aggregating to require less computing oomph, rebooting, saving as
variables,"....
ROFLMAO!

The same question appeared in the SPSS group on usenet (comp.soft-sys.stat.spss).  After prompting, Tara did post one of the troublesome COMPUTE commands there, and Fred Sutton spotted that the continuation lines were starting at the left margin.  Inserting a space at the beginning of each continuation line fixed the problem.   Well, it did for Fred at least.  We've not heard back from Tara yet.  ;-)

[tara.dennehy]

Thank you everyone for your help.  Through various messages/exchanges it appears that the problems may be due to this particular iteration of SPSS (16.0.1 for Mac), as I receive the same error(s) when working on computers in my lab that are running the same version.  Everything (the point-and-click compute variables and the syntax) works fine on SPSS 17 for Mac.  I also had other people test the compute variable function to see if was just me having the problem and it does appear to be the program.

To recap (for anyone reading, as most of the exchanges were via email), I had two separate issues regarding computing variables.  The first issue was that every syntax command I entered prompted me for a Python plug-in.  The syntax was as follows:

compute Necessity_mean=mean(Spanishspeaker_Necessity,
Cancerpatient_Necessity, Doctor_Necessity, Moviebuff_Necessity,
Heterosexual_Necessity, Lowerclass_Necessity, Old_Necessity,
Small_Necessity, Schizophrenic_Necessity, Male_Necessity,
Extrovert_Necessity, Attractive_Necessity, Smart_Necessity,
Jew_Necessity, Paraplegic_Necessity, Asian_Necessity, Black_Necessity,
Liberal_Necessity, Vegetarian_Necessity, Easterner_Necessity,
Englishspeaker_Necessity, AIDSpatient_Necessity, Mechanic_Necessity,
Sportsfan_Necessity, Homosexual_Necessity, Middleclass_Necessity,
Young_Necessity, Large_Necessity, Depressive_Necessity,
Female_Necessity, Introvert_Necessity, Ugly_Necessity,
Average_Necessity, Catholic_Necessity, Blind_Necessity,
Hispanic_Necessity, White_Necessity, Republican_Necessity,
Meateater_Necessity, Midwesterner_Necessity).
execute.

My syntax editor didn't wrap; hence the lack of indents on each line break.  However, I received the same python-requesting error when using syntax and a data file sent to me from Tim at SPSS.  The syntax works fine on other versions of SPSS (the problem may be due to the fact that my university is running an older version that has not been updated).

The second problem was in the point-and-click interface, which was what I was primarily concerned about.  The compute function would work just great for up to 10 variables, but after that the output would just read "EXECUTE" without actually performing anything.  Later editions of SPSS (Mac 17) do not seem to have this problem.

I apologize for the delay in responding; I had a class to teach and meetings all day.  Thank you everyone for your help in attempting to resolve this issue.

Best,
Tara.

P. S.  I had not initially included the syntax as I was primarily concerned about the problem with the point-and-click interface, given that it is somewhat more idiot-proof than syntax ;-)

Bruce Weaver wrote:

David Marso wrote:

Tara,
A tiny bit of detail WRT what you are actually doing would be useful.
Other than that you don't need any Python Plugin for standard usage.
"I need to
>create 10 variables computed from 40 variables each and 40 variables
>computed from 20 variables each"
Specifically???
"I tried entering the command as syntax".
Spending a few seconds to have pasted the syntax might have led to your
receiving a useful response.  Try again.
"If anyone has any magical inspiration regarding this problem (I've tried
aggregating to require less computing oomph, rebooting, saving as
variables,"....
ROFLMAO!

The same question appeared in the SPSS group on usenet (comp.soft-sys.stat.spss).  After prompting, Tara did post one of the troublesome COMPUTE commands there, and Fred Sutton spotted that the continuation lines were starting at the left margin.  Inserting a space at the beginning of each continuation line fixed the problem.   Well, it did for Fred at least.  We've not heard back from Tara yet.  ;-)

[Art Kendall]

If you are using SPSS, I strongly suggest that you emphasize that the GUI is a handy way to generate the first draft of syntax. 

It is a good habit to develop to exit the GUI via <paste> .

Art Kendall
Social Research Consultants

tara.dennehy wrote:

Thank you everyone for your help.  Through various messages/exchanges it
appears that the problems may be due to this particular iteration of SPSS
(16.0.1 for Mac), as I receive the same error(s) when working on computers
in my lab that are running the same version.  Everything (the
point-and-click compute variables and the syntax) works fine on SPSS 17 for
Mac.  I also had other people test the compute variable function to see if
was just me having the problem and it does appear to be the program.

To recap (for anyone reading, as most of the exchanges were via email), I
had two separate issues regarding computing variables.  The first issue was
that every syntax command I entered prompted me for a Python plug-in.  The
syntax was as follows:

compute Necessity_mean=mean(Spanishspeaker_Necessity,
Cancerpatient_Necessity, Doctor_Necessity, Moviebuff_Necessity,
Heterosexual_Necessity, Lowerclass_Necessity, Old_Necessity,
Small_Necessity, Schizophrenic_Necessity, Male_Necessity,
Extrovert_Necessity, Attractive_Necessity, Smart_Necessity,
Jew_Necessity, Paraplegic_Necessity, Asian_Necessity, Black_Necessity,
Liberal_Necessity, Vegetarian_Necessity, Easterner_Necessity,
Englishspeaker_Necessity, AIDSpatient_Necessity, Mechanic_Necessity,
Sportsfan_Necessity, Homosexual_Necessity, Middleclass_Necessity,
Young_Necessity, Large_Necessity, Depressive_Necessity,
Female_Necessity, Introvert_Necessity, Ugly_Necessity,
Average_Necessity, Catholic_Necessity, Blind_Necessity,
Hispanic_Necessity, White_Necessity, Republican_Necessity,
Meateater_Necessity, Midwesterner_Necessity).
execute.

My syntax editor didn't wrap; hence the lack of indents on each line break.
However, I received the same python-requesting error when using syntax and a
data file sent to me from Tim at SPSS.  The syntax works fine on other
versions of SPSS (the problem may be due to the fact that my university is
running an older version that has not been updated).

The second problem was in the point-and-click interface, which was what I
was primarily concerned about.  The compute function would work just great
for up to 10 variables, but after that the output would just read "EXECUTE"
without actually performing anything.  Later editions of SPSS (Mac 17) do
not seem to have this problem.

I apologize for the delay in responding; I had a class to teach and meetings
all day.  Thank you everyone for your help in attempting to resolve this
issue.

Best,
Tara.

P. S.  I had not initially included the syntax as I was primarily concerned
about the problem with the point-and-click interface, given that it is
somewhat more idiot-proof than syntax ;-)



Bruce Weaver wrote:
  

David Marso wrote:
    

Tara,
A tiny bit of detail WRT what you are actually doing would be useful.
Other than that you don't need any Python Plugin for standard usage.
"I need to
      

create 10 variables computed from 40 variables each and 40 variables
computed from 20 variables each"
        

Specifically???
"I tried entering the command as syntax".
Spending a few seconds to have pasted the syntax might have led to your
receiving a useful response.  Try again.
"If anyone has any magical inspiration regarding this problem (I've tried
aggregating to require less computing oomph, rebooting, saving as
variables,"....
ROFLMAO!


      

The same question appeared in the SPSS group on usenet
(comp.soft-sys.stat.spss).  After prompting, Tara did post one of the
troublesome COMPUTE commands there, and Fred Sutton spotted that the
continuation lines were starting at the left margin.  Inserting a space at
the beginning of each continuation line fixed the problem.   Well, it did
for Fred at least.  We've not heard back from Tara yet.  ;-)


    

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View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/Help-with-Compute-Variable-problem-tp24348001p24366482.html
Sent from the SPSSX Discussion mailing list archive at Nabble.com.

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[Frans Marcelissen-3]

Some parts of this message have been removed. Learn more about Nabble's security policy.

I did not try, but I do not see why you should need the python plugin for this. Could you exactly describe do you try to run this syntax? I hope you do not run it in a script? I believe that you you indeed need python for that? Just open a syntax file and put this lines init. Or could it be that you run it in an "begin program ... end program block? (that is incorrect too).
Regarding the idiot proof point-and-click click solution, imho the interface is designed by idiots and only intended for use by idiots. It is only useful for creating syntax files.
Greetz
Frans
 

> Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2009 20:14:57 -0700
> From: tdennehy.psych@...
> Subject: Re: Help with Compute Variable problem
> To: SPSSX-L@...
>
> Thank you everyone for your help. Through various messages/exchanges it
> appears that the problems may be due to this particular iteration of SPSS
> (16.0.1 for Mac), as I receive the same error(s) when working on computers
> in my lab that are running the same version. Everything (the
> point-and-click compute variables and the syntax) works fine on SPSS 17 for
> Mac. I also had other people test the compute variable function to see if
> was just me having the problem and it does appear to be the program.
>
> To recap (for anyone reading, as most of the exchanges were via email), I
> had two separate issues regarding computing variables. The first issue was
> that every syntax command I entered prompted me for a Python plug-in. The
> syntax was as follows:
>
> compute Necessity_mean=mean(Spanishspeaker_Necessity,
> Cancerpatient_Necessity, Doctor_Necessity, Moviebuff_Necessity,
> Heterosexual_Necessity, Lowerclass_Necessity, Old_Necessity,
> Small_Necessity, Schizophrenic_Necessity, Male_Necessity,
> Extrovert_Necessity, Attractive_Necessity, Smart_Necessity,
> Jew_Necessity, Paraplegic_Necessity, Asian_Necessity, Black_Necessity,
> Liberal_Necessity, Vegetarian_Necessity, Easterner_Necessity,
> Englishspeaker_Necessity, AIDSpatient_Necessity, Mechanic_Necessity,
> Sportsfan_Necessity, Homosexual_Necessity, Middleclass_Necessity,
> Young_Necessity, Large_Necessity, Depressive_Necessity,
> Female_Necessity, Introvert_Necessity, Ugly_Necessity,
> Average_Necessity, Catholic_Necessity, Blind_Necessity,
> Hispanic_Necessity, White_Necessity, Republican_Necessity,
> Meateater_Necessity, Midwesterner_Necessity).
> execute.
>
> My syntax editor didn't wrap; hence the lack of indents on each line break.
> However, I received the same python-requesting error when using syntax and a
> data file sent to me from Tim at SPSS. The syntax works fine on other
> versions of SPSS (the problem may be due to the fact that my university is
> running an older version that has not been updated).
>
> The second problem was in the point-and-click interface, which was what I
> was primarily concerned about. The compute function would work just great
> for up to 10 variables, but after that the output would just read "EXECUTE"
> without actually performing anything. Later editions of SPSS (Mac 17) do
> not seem to have this problem.
>
> I apologize for the delay in responding; I had a class to teach and meetings
> all day. Thank you everyone for your help in attempting to resolve this
> issue.
>
> Best,
> Tara.
>
> P. S. I had not initially included the syntax as I was primarily concerned
> about the problem with the point-and-click interface, given that it is
> somewhat more idiot-proof than syntax ;-)
>
>
>
> Bruce Weaver wrote:
> >
> >
> > David Marso wrote:
> >>
> >> Tara,
> >> A tiny bit of detail WRT what you are actually doing would be useful.
> >> Other than that you don't need any Python Plugin for standard usage.
> >> "I need to
> >>>create 10 variables computed from 40 variables each and 40 variables
> >>>computed from 20 variables each"
> >> Specifically???
> >> "I tried entering the command as syntax".
> >> Spending a few seconds to have pasted the syntax might have led to your
> >> receiving a useful response. Try again.
> >> "If anyone has any magical inspiration regarding this problem (I've tried
> >> aggregating to require less computing oomph, rebooting, saving as
> >> variables,"....
> >> ROFLMAO!
> >>
> >>
> >
> > The same question appeared in the SPSS group on usenet
> > (comp.soft-sys.stat.spss). After prompting, Tara did post one of the
> > troublesome COMPUTE commands there, and Fred Sutton spotted that the
> > continuation lines were starting at the left margin. Inserting a space at
> > the beginning of each continuation line fixed the problem. Well, it did
> > for Fred at least. We've not heard back from Tara yet. ;-)
> >
> >
>
> --
> View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/Help-with-Compute-Variable-problem-tp24348001p24366482.html
> Sent from the SPSSX Discussion mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>
> =====================
> To manage your subscription to SPSSX-L, send a message to
> LISTSERV@... (not to SPSSX-L), with no body text except the
> command. To leave the list, send the command
> SIGNOFF SPSSX-L
> For a list of commands to manage subscriptions, send the command
> INFO REFCARD

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