Managing custom dialogs in compatibility mode

In compatibility mode, you create and modify custom dialogs that are compatible with all releases of IBM® SPSS® Statistics and are referred to as compatible custom dialogs.

To open the Custom Dialog Builder in compatibility mode, from the menus choose:

Extensions > Utilities > Custom Dialog Builder (Compatibility mode)...

Opening a compatible custom dialog

You can open a compatible custom dialog package (.spd) file containing the specifications for a compatible custom dialog or you can open an installed compatible custom dialog.

To open a compatible custom dialog package file, from the menus in the Custom Dialog Builder choose:

File > Open

To open an installed compatible custom dialog, from the menus in the Custom Dialog Builder choose:

File > Open Installed

Note: If you open an installed dialog and modify it, choosing File > Install reinstalls it, replacing the existing version.

Saving to a compatible custom dialog package file

You can save the specifications for a compatible custom dialog to an external file. Specifications are saved to a compatible custom dialog package (.spd) file.

From the menus in the Custom Dialog Builder, choose:

File > Save

Converting a compatible custom dialog to an enhanced custom dialog

You can convert a dialog that is open in compatibility mode to an enhanced dialog to take advantage of the features that are available for enhanced dialogs. The enhanced version of the dialog is then part of a new extension.

From the menus in the Custom Dialog Builder, choose:

File > Convert to enhanced

Note: The conversion to an enhanced dialog cannot be undone.

Installing a compatible custom dialog

You can install the dialog that is open in the Custom Dialog Builder or you can install a dialog from a compatible custom dialog package (.spd) file. Reinstalling an existing dialog replaces the existing version.

To install the currently open dialog, from the menus in the Custom Dialog Builder choose:

File > Install

To install from a compatible custom dialog package file, from the IBM SPSS Statistics menus choose:

Extensions > Utilities > Install Custom Dialog (Compatibility mode)...

For Windows 7 and later, and Mac, dialogs are installed to a general user-writable location. To view the current installation locations for custom dialogs, run the following command syntax: SHOW EXTPATHS.

For Linux, and by default, installing a dialog requires write permission to the IBM SPSS Statistics installation directory.

If you do not have write permissions to the required location or would like to store installed dialogs elsewhere, you can specify one or more alternate locations by defining the SPSS_CDIALOGS_PATH environment variable. When present, the paths specified in SPSS_CDIALOGS_PATH take precedence over the default location. Custom dialogs will be installed to the first writable location. Note that Mac users may also utilize the SPSS_CDIALOGS_PATH environment variable. For multiple locations, separate each with a semicolon on Windows and a colon on Linux and Mac. The specified locations must exist on the target machine. After setting SPSS_CDIALOGS_PATH, you must restart IBM SPSS Statistics for the changes to take effect.

To create the SPSS_CDIALOGS_PATH environment variable on Windows, from the Control Panel:

Windows 7

  1. Select User Accounts.
  2. Select Change my environment variables.
  3. Click New, enter SPSS_CDIALOGS_PATH in the Variable name field and the path(s) in the Variable value field.

Windows 8 and Later

  1. Select System.
  2. Select the Advanced tab, which is accessed from Advanced system settings, and click Environment Variables.
  3. In the User variables section, click New, enter SPSS_CDIALOGS_PATH in the Variable name field and the path(s) in the Variable value field.

Sharing a compatible custom dialog as an extension

You can create an extension that includes a compatible custom dialog so that you can share the dialog with other users. See the topic Creating and editing extension bundles for more information.

Uninstalling a compatible custom dialog

From the menus in the Custom Dialog Builder, choose:

File > Uninstall

Creating a new compatible custom dialog

To create a new compatible custom dialog, from the menus in the Custom Dialog Builder choose:

File > New