Copying Data Properties

The Copy Data Properties Wizard provides the ability to use an external IBM® SPSS® Statistics data file as a template for defining file and variable properties in the active dataset. You can also use variables in the active dataset as templates for other variables in the active dataset. You can:

• Copy selected file properties from an external data file or open dataset to the active dataset. File properties include documents, file labels, multiple response sets, variable sets, and weighting.
• Copy selected variable properties from an external data file or open dataset to matching variables in the active dataset. Variable properties include value labels, missing values, level of measurement, variable labels, print and write formats, alignment, and column width (in the Data Editor).
• Copy selected variable properties from one variable in either an external data file, open dataset, or the active dataset to many variables in the active dataset.
• Create new variables in the active dataset based on selected variables in an external data file or open dataset.

When copying data properties, the following general rules apply:

• If you use an external data file as the source data file, it must be a data file in IBM SPSS Statistics format.
• If you use the active dataset as the source data file, it must contain at least one variable. You cannot use a completely blank active dataset as the source data file.
• Undefined (empty) properties in the source dataset do not overwrite defined properties in the active dataset.
• Variable properties are copied from the source variable only to target variables of a matching type--string (alphanumeric) or numeric (including numeric, date, and currency).

Note: Copy Data Properties replaces Apply Data Dictionary, formerly available on the File menu.