Overview (IMPORT command)

IMPORT reads portable data files created with the EXPORT command. A portable data file is a data file created by the program and used to transport data between different types of computers and operating systems (such as between IBM CMS and Digital VAX/VMS) or between IBM® SPSS® Statistics and other software using the same portable file format. A portable file contains all of the data and dictionary information stored in the active dataset from which it was created.

The program can also read data files created by other software programs. See GET DATA and GET TRANSLATE for information on reading files created by spreadsheet and database programs such as dBASE, Lotus, and Excel.

Options

Format. You can specify the format of the portable file (magnetic tape or communications program) on the TYPE subcommand.

Variables. You can read a subset of variables from the active dataset with the DROP and KEEP subcommands. You can rename variables using RENAME. You can also produce a record of all variables and their names in the active dataset with the MAP subcommand.

Basic Specification

The basic specification is the FILE subcommand with a file specification. All variables from the portable file are copied into the active dataset with their original names, variable and value labels, missing-value flags, and print and write formats.

Subcommand Order

• FILE and TYPE must precede all other subcommands.
• No specific order is required between FILE and TYPE or among other subcommands.

Operations

• The portable data file and dictionary become the active dataset and dictionary.
• A file saved with weighting in effect (using the WEIGHT command) automatically uses the case weights when the file is read.