EXCEPT Subcommand (MLP command)

The EXCEPT subcommand lists any variables that the MLP procedure should exclude from the factor or covariate lists on the command line. This subcommand is useful if the factor or covariate lists contain a large number of variables—specified using the TO or ALL keyword, for example—but there are a few variables (for example, Case ID) that should be excluded.

The EXCEPT subcommand is introduced strictly for the purpose of simplifying syntax. Missing values on factors or covariates specified on EXCEPT do not affect whether a case is included in the analysis. For example, the following two MLP commands are equivalent. In both commands, listwise deletion is based on the dependent variable and factors A, B, and C.

MLP DepVar BY A B C. 

MLP DepVar BY A B C D   /EXCEPT VARIABLES=D.

• The EXCEPT subcommand ignores duplicate variables and variables that are not specified on the command line’s factor or covariate lists.
• There is no default variable list on the EXCEPT subcommand.