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QuestionAre there any new data aggregating features in SPSS 13.0?
AnswerYes, SPSS 13.0 has two new data aggregating features.
1. If you're using the distributed mode with SPSS Server, you can save time when importing large data sources by aggregating and sorting data with the Database Wizard before reading it into SPSS.
To use the Database Wizard, select File>Open Database from the menu. Select your configured data source, and click Next. Under Select Data, click on your variables and drag them to the Retrieve Fields list. Select Next.
You can still limit the number of retrieved cases by specifying selection criteria.
You can then aggregate your data according to groups defined by break variables.
After defining your variables, you can sort your aggregate data in ascending or descending order.
The sort feature is still available after reading the data into SPSS, under the menu DATA>SORT.
In the final step, you have the option to finish or paste the syntax.
2. In previous versions of SPSS for Windows, you could create a new working file or a new aggregate data file. In SPSS 13.0, you can add aggregate variables to the working data file.
If you add aggregate variables to the working data file, the data file itself is not aggregated. Each case with the same value(s) as the break variable(s) receives the same values for the new aggregate variables. For example, if gender is the only break variable, all males would receive the same value for a new aggregate variable that represents average age.
In the example below, we want to sum up the values of Happiness and Excitement based on the break variables of Sex and Race. In addition, we want to get a total number of cases and add everything to the working file.
You can override the default aggregate variable names with new variable names, provide descriptive variable labels, and change the functions used to compute the aggregated data values. You can also create a variable that contains the number of cases in each break group.
New variables based on aggregate functions are appended to the working data file. The data file itself is not aggregated. Each case with the same value(s) as the break variable(s) receives the same values for the new aggregate variables.
For more SPSS technical tips, please visit the SPSS Technical Support Web site at http://support.spss.com/.
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