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Importing Data From Other Applications

This document discusses importing data from other applications into SPSS. It describes how to import an Excel spreadsheet by opening the file in SPSS, selecting the correct file type, and reading variable names from the first row. It also discusses importing tab-delimited text files, which requires using a codebook to identify which variable corresponds to each column in SPSS. The text import wizard can be used to accomplish this by specifying the text file, variable locations, and column structure.

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Ionut Velescu
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21 views1 page

Importing Data From Other Applications

This document discusses importing data from other applications into SPSS. It describes how to import an Excel spreadsheet by opening the file in SPSS, selecting the correct file type, and reading variable names from the first row. It also discusses importing tab-delimited text files, which requires using a codebook to identify which variable corresponds to each column in SPSS. The text import wizard can be used to accomplish this by specifying the text file, variable locations, and column structure.

Uploaded by

Ionut Velescu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CHAPTER 21

IMPORTING DATA FROM OTHER APPLICATIONS


Importing data from an EXCEL spreadsheet
On occasion you may receive data in spreadsheet form. Another party may have acquired or prepared
data using a spreadsheet program such as Excel. It is useful to know how to take such files and import
them into SPSSWIN for analysis.
Data from an Excel (for WIN) spreadsheet can be imported into SPSSWIN as follows:
1.

In SPSSWIN click on FILE OPEN DATA

2.

The OPEN DATA FILE Dialog Box will appear. From the FILE TYPE pulldown menu select
EXCEL (*.xls).

3.

After "Look In" you will need to identify the folder containing the Excel file of interest

4.

Click on the file name of interest and click on OPEN or simply double-click on the file name.

5.

Keep the box checked that reads "Read variable names from the first row of data". This
presumes that the first row of the Excel data file contains variable names in the first row. [If the
data resided in a different worksheet in the Excel file, this would need to be entered.]

6.

Click on OK. The Excel data file will now appear in the SPSSWIN Data Editor.

7.

The former EXCEL spreadsheet can now be saved as an SPSS file (FILE SAVE AS) and is
ready to be used in analyses.

Importing Text Files (raw data) into SPSSWIN


The following information may be irrelevant for most SPSSWIN users. But, if a data file you need to use is
only available in text form, you will need to know how to import it. This is particularly true if you wish to
reanalyze data from past surveys (e.g., data collected in the early 1990's or before).
It is possible to retrieve text files into the Windows version of SPSS. However, the data must be in a form
called TAB-DELIMITED. Below is the first five lines of an ASCII DOS Text data file:
001kja1299342123030901101008082212112222222200511732
002kja1325332312999999999999991211112121212101011694
003kja1142421223100907081010101211112221222200612742
004kja1221321213100904040909091111122221122201012723
005kja1245354111101008091010101211122211122202012742
Each line of data (a case) above is composed of numerous variables. Can you tell where one variable
ends and the next begins? You will need what is called a "Codebook" -- a guide to reading the data file.
The numeric value (datum) for each variable must be placed into a separate column in the SPSSWIN
Data Editor. For SPSS to be able to read these data, it must know what variables are found in what
columns.
To accomplish this feat, you will need to use the Text Import Wizard. You begin by clicking on:
FILE READ TEXT DATA
You will then be asked which text (*.txt) file you wish to open. Once the file is selected, the Text Import
Wizard will be initiated. If you are unsure how to use the Wizard, request (click the "Help" button), refer to
an SPSSWIN manual, or seek out your instructor's help.

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