spss.DataStep Class (Python)

The DataStep class implicitly starts and ends a data step without the need to explicitly call StartDataStep and EndDataStep. In addition, it executes any pending transformations, eliminating the need to check for them prior to starting a data step. The DataStep class is designed to be used with the Python with statement as shown in the following example.

Example

BEGIN PROGRAM.
import spss
with spss.DataStep():
   datasetObj = spss.Dataset(name=None)
   datasetObj.varlist.append('numvar')
   datasetObj.varlist.append('strvar',1)
   datasetObj.varlist['numvar'].label = 'Sample numeric variable'
   datasetObj.varlist['strvar'].label = 'Sample string variable'
   datasetObj.cases.append([1,'a'])
   datasetObj.cases.append([2,'b'])
END PROGRAM.

• with spss.DataStep(): initiates a block of code associated with a data step. The data step is implicitly started after executing any pending transformations. All code associated with the data step should reside in the block as shown here. When the block completes, the data step is implicitly ended.