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Statistical/Research
Services
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SPSS Version 16: Enlarge Output Size (9/23/08) After SPSS output has been obtained and is visible on the screen, click on Print Preview, which is under the File menu. Then click on Zoom In, which is shown at the top of the screen, as many times as is needed to reach the output size desired. This enlarged view is useful for presentations. SAS and Vista
*Note: SAS 9.1.3 needs Service Pack 4 (SP4) which is downloadable from the SAS web site: www.sas.com SAS does not test and therefore does not support Version 9.2 and SAS Version 9.1.3 under the following Vista ™ 32-bit Home editions:
SAS on Unix In order to obtain graphical capability with SAS on Unix, an x-windows emulation product is needed. The TECH Center currently has X-win32 software installed to provide this feature. With the use of X-win32, SAS on Unix will look like SAS for Windows and provide screens and drop-down menus. SAS modules such as SAS/Assist, SAS/Graph, and SAS/Insight can then be used as well as those mentioned above. Also, if the user installs the Mozilla Firefox Web browser, he/she will be able to use the SAS Help menu to obtain documentation and sample programs. For further information on the use of SAS on Unix, send e-mail to roz@temple.edu. SPSS Version 16 Saving File Problem (4/7/08) SPSS Technical Support has recently detected a problem in SPSS 16.0.x whereby modifications are made to an existing data file and the file appears to save, yet the file is missing from the system. This problem can occur if you exit the application without explicitly saving your file first. This problem has been observed when working with larger size data files or saving to a slower device (such as over the network) such that the saving process takes longer than 3 seconds. It is strongly advised that you do not save your files in this manner until the issue is addressed which is slated for the next maintenance release. SPSS is evaluating the most appropriate solution but until it is available, always save your file explicitly via File->Save or the save toolbar button prior to exiting the application. If you have any questions or problems, please contact your local SPSS support team (http://support.spss.com/contactus.asp). SPSS Version 15 DELETE VARIABLES ERROR (6/29/07) Users SPSS has just informed us of an error in SPSS Version 15 that is associated with deleting variables in a dataset. Please be aware of this potential problem by reading the information below: Note: If you are not running SPSS 15.0.1 dated November 22, 2006 - please disregard this email. SPSS Technical Support recently detected a problem with SPSS 15.0.1 dated November 22, 2006. Deleting variables in a dataset may cause data to be incorrect upon subsequent transformations. This only occurs when variables are deleted interactively from the user interface or invoking the DELETE VARIABLES syntax command. This would be apparent when a new variable is generated in the active dataset. SPSS is evaluating the most appropriate solution but until it is available, the workaround would be to cache your dataset after deleting a variable. From the data editor go to File->Cache Data and choose Cache Now. Via command syntax, please add the CACHE command following every DELETE VARIABLES command. If you have any questions or problems, please contact your local SPSS support team (http://support.spss.com/contactus.asp). SPSS apologizes for any inconvenience this has caused. We are continually striving to provide more proactive communication to our clients. However, if you do not wish to receive further proactive e-mails from SPSS Support, just reply to this message with REMOVE on the subject line. Thank you, SPSS Technical Support Using Different Stat Software Versions (8/21/06) Users of statistical software on the same computer platform (e.g.,Windows) but who access the software in more than one location (i.e., a computer lab, office, or home) should check the versions and follow the below guidelines when the versions are different: For SPSS data files: The newer release (e.g.,V14) can read a data file created by an older release (e.g.,V13) but not vice versa. For SAS data sets: Data sets that were created with the same data engine
(e.g.,V8) are read directly without requiring the data engine specification. For Stata data sets: The newer release can read an older release’s data set
but not vice versa. For SPSS Output Files: The newer release can read an output file that is created by an older release but not vice versa. Solution: Use the Export option under the File menu to change the output format to a Word compatible format (e.g.,RTF format) if an older release is being used to read the output of a newer version. Then access the output file by Word. For SAS Output Files: The output is typically in ASCII format and it is unlikely there will be a problem reading it with Word Processing software. For Stata Output Files: When Stata is used interactively, the session file
will likely end up in Stata Markup and Control Language (i.e.,SMCL)
which is not understood by Word Processing software.
New SPSS for Windows Documentation (2/13/06) The following new document has been completed which describes special features within SPSS for Windows. E185: Selected SPSS Features under Windows – Part I New SAS for Windows Documentation (8/25/04) Two new documents have been completed which describe special features within SAS for Windows. E187: Selected SAS Features under Windows – Part I Some of the topics described in E187 include: Some of the topics described in E188 include: There are three methods available at Temple for the use of SAS software on a Unix platform. Before employing any of these methods, the user must have or request a Unix account on the Compute server (contact the Help Desk in The TECH Center, 12th St. & Montgomery Ave., room 106, or call 215-204-8000). Students can purchase the documentation listed below at the Copy Center, Conwell Hall, 6th floor; faculty/staff can obtain documentation from staff at the Help Desk or on the 7th floor of Wachman Hall.
* Note:
Purchase of Statistical Software (1/20/04) Purchases of statistical software and related manuals should be done either through the software vendor (www.sas.com, www.spss.com, etc.) or by contacting Journey Ed which is accessible from: http://temple.bkstore.com/ On the left side of the above Web page, is a link to Student Software Discounts, which provides linkage to the Journey Ed Web page. The Temple Bookstore no longer sells software or its manuals. Statistical Software Available on Unix (1/20/04) The following software is available on the Compute Unix Server: SAS, SPSS, STATA, LIMDEP, and TSP. Contact the staff at the Help Desk (The TECH Center, 12th St. & Montgomery Ave., room 106) to initiate a Compute account. The Compute Server can be accessed in different modes as described below. In X-windows mode, SAS, SPSS, and STATA work similarly to the Windows versions of their products.. For X-windows use from home (SAS, SPSS, or STATA): Contact Hummingbird (http://www.hummingbird.com/) to acquire Exceed software. Student cost is $25 /copy/license period. Contact Computer Services Help Desk for proxy server setup and installation instructions. For X-windows use from Temple labs (SAS, SPSS, or STATA): Use Exceed in Wachman, Tuttleman, Paley, Gladfelter, TUCC, and Ambler to access the Compute Unix server. Statistical Software Rentals (1/20/04) Another option is available for acquiring either SPSS or MINITAB on the Windows platform. Both products can be acquired through rental arrangements with a private company named e-academy (www.e-academy.com). SAS for Windows Installation Issues (1/20/04) SAS Version 9 requires either Windows 2000/XP Professional/NT in order to be installed. In particular, SAS 9 cannot be installed with the Windows XP Home version. However, SAS 8.2 can be installed under Windows 98/2000/ME/XP(32 bit) as well as Windows 95+Year 2000 updates. Excel Not Recommended for Statistical Computation (1/20/04) Several sources provide reasons for not using Excel to compute statistics. See the References below: Enter Data in Excel Before Analysis with Stat Software (1/20/04) Users may want to first enter their data within an Excel worksheet. In general, the rows are the subjects and the columns are the variables. Use the first row to type the names (i.e., variable names) for the columns. The names must follow the variable naming conventions for the statistical package (e.g., SPSS and SAS) that will access the Excel file. Incomplete References: New/Updated Computer Services Documentation (1/20/04) E180: Statistical Processing on the Computer File Transfer Between SPSS and SAS (1/20/04) If any difficulty is encountered in moving files between SPSS and SAS, save the data file or data set as an Excel worksheet. If there is any further incompatibility, go to Excel, and resave as an Excel Version 4 worksheet. Both packages can read this version of Excel. Statistical Software Usage Between Home and Lab (1/20/04) Check the version and computer platform of the software used at home and compare it with the one used in the Computer Lab. If the platform is the same (e.g., Windows), but the versions are not the same, do the following: For SAS: For SPSS: SPSS Version 11 & 11.5 problem (04/29/2003) There is a glitch in Spss 11 & 11.5 that occurs when a copy is to be made of an Spss data file that has just been saved. This would occur, for example, if the data file is to be stored on two different diskettes. The result that occurs is the second copy (using File and Save As) ends up without any data. There are several ways to resolve this problem using Spss 11 (which is in many of the labs but is not the version in the SCC). 1. Close Spss. Then re-open Spss and use File>Open>Data to open the first data file that was saved. The use of File and Save As will now work to save a copy of the data file. 2. Send the first Spss data file (that was successfully saved) as an attachment in an e-mail that you send to yourself. The attached file can then be saved by right-clicking on the file and using the Save File option from the dialog box that appears. 3. Use Windows Explorer to drag the first data file to a desired location. 4. Save the data file to a hard drive and then use Windows Explorer to copy that file to a diskette. SPSS 10.1 and Win XP (11/19/2002) SPSS version 10.1 will not run under Win XP. User needs to upgrade to either SPSS version 11 or 11.5 SAS 8.2 for Windows (11/19/2002) If you are not able to access SAS help, check the version of the file HH.exe, which is in the Window folder. If the version is 5.2, go to the following web address, http://ftp.sas.com/techsup/download/hotfix/82_win_sbcs.html. Find patch 82bb04 for Windows. Then download the patch, it will correct the problem. The IBM VM will be disconnected on 12/31/2002. If you plan to move your files from the IBM VM to either Unix or a PC, go to the Computer Services website at http://www.temple.edu/cs. Click on the link for IBM VM migration to obtain further information regarding file transfer and/or conversion. SPSS 11 for Windows (05/31/2002) In order to view the SPSS Tutorial, it is necessary to use Internet Explorer 6 instead of Netscape Navigator. If your default browser is Netscape, follow the steps below: 1. Open SPSS 11 and select the Tutorial. Netscape will automatically begin. From the location bar, copy the address shown for the tutorial by using Edit and Copy. 2. Close Netscape and open Internet Explorer. Paste the copied SPSS tutorial address in the location bar and hit enter. The SPSS Tutorial 111c will then initiate properly. Two additional Statistical Seminar handouts are now available: S-251 STATA for Unix (Batch/Interactive) S-283 SPSS Syntax for Windows If you are not interested in buying software, then you may want to rent software. Students can visit the e-academy web-site for details on renting either SPSS or MINITAB software. Statistical Software under UNIX The following Statistical Software can now be accessed on a UNIX platform : SAS, SPSS, STATA, LIMDEP, and TSP. Users who are interested in any of these products will need an Astro account and then Compute account. Accounts for students, faculty, or staff at Temple can be acquired from the staff at the Help Desk (The TECH Center, 12th St. & Montgomery Ave., room 106) or call 215-204-8000 for further information. There is a bug in this version that affects the saving of information. To avoid the problem, always use the File menu and then Save or Save As. Do not use the Save icon. If the Save icon is double clicked, from that point on, no information is saved. This problem is fixed in SPSS version 10.0.7. SAS Version 8 (All Computer Platforms) Problem: Accessing datasets with SAS Version 8 Answer: Add the Engine (e.g.,V6) to the libname statement if you are accessing a dataset earlier than version 8. New/Updated Documentation (Fall 2000) E334
Using TSP on UNIX (New) Differences between Spss 9 for Windows and Spss 10 for Windows The Data Menu in Version 10 no longer has the Define Variable option for defining the variable name, type, missing values, etc. Instead, the user needs to provide the same information by using the Variable View. SPSS for Windows (Versions 9,10) Problem: How do I read multi-record input data files? Problem
: How do I input a data file with delimiters? Problem:
Installation requires SVGA monitor Problem: Output file is not readable by other software. Answer: Go to the Edit Menu; Select Options; Select Draft Viewer under Output Type at Start-Up; Click OK and exit SPSS. Then restart SPSS. Problem: Output file is not readable by other software Answer: Go to the File Menu; Select Export; Select Text as File Type; Supply path and file name SPSS for Windows (Versions 8,9) Problem: I want to enter my data through Excel and then use Spss to read the data. What do I need to watch out for? Answer: First, give each variable a name on the first row of the worksheet. Next, the researcher must check that the cell format is defined with left alignment in the horizontal direction) and center alignment (in the vertical direction). Finally, store the Excel file as an Excel 4 Worksheet ( i.e. *.xls file ) even if you are using a newer version of Excel. Computer Services document E184 :Statistical Software File Transfer (Part III) is currently being updated to include examples for the latest versions of statistical software on a Windows platform. SAS for Windows (Version 6.12) Problem: Which SAS features are associated with the latest problem alerts? Answer: See the list below. BASE/SAS- SPSS Engine Question: Which software is recommended for creating a questionnaire or survey instrument? Answer: Survey Pro-a product from Apian Software. A seminar describing Survey Pro's features is given by Computer Services staff. Check the Computer Services Seminar Schedule for specific information. Question: How do you analyze open-ended questions efficiently? Answer: Use Textsmart-a product from Spss Inc. Computer Services staff gives a seminar describing Textsmart. Check the Computer Services Seminar Schedule for specific information. The major problem with Y2K and statistical software is the use of 2-digit dates. When 4-digit dates are used, there should be no problem. The exception to this is the use of a cutoff year. Each package (as a function of the version) uses a particular cutoff year. Depending on the software, that cutoff year will affect the interpretation of all 2-digit dates but might also affect 4-digit dates as well. Vendor Support for Macintosh Software SAS
- on the MAC platform supported to Version 6.12 For specific information that is applicable to your computer analysis, contact roz@temple.edu if you are a Temple University student, faculty, or staff person. For further tips and techniques on statistical issues and/or statistical software use, go to Software News and/or one of the software vendors shown below:
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