Introduction to the Batch Facility

IBM® SPSS® Statistics Server is client/server based. It distributes client requests for resource-intensive operations to powerful server software. Typically, the client for IBM SPSS Statistics Server is a version of IBM SPSS Statistics running on a desktop computer. The Batch Facility is an alternative way to use the power of IBM SPSS Statistics Server, and it runs on the server computer.

Server provides a powerful statistical analysis and data management system. When an end user works with the IBM SPSS Statistics client, he or she can choose from two alternative interfaces: the graphical user interface of menus and dialog boxes or the command syntax language. In most cases, end users work with the user interface in the IBM SPSS Statistics client application to do interactive analysis and report production.

The Batch Facility is intended for automated production of statistical reports. Automated production provides the ability to run analyses without user intervention. Automated production is useful if users at your site often run the same set of time-consuming analyses, such as weekly reports. The Batch Facility takes as its input a report request contained in a command syntax file. The Batch Facility then automatically produces statistical reports.

The Batch Facility is a streamlined application specifically designed for batch use in a server environment. Although the Batch Facility can be used in a Windows or a UNIX site, it is the only batch processing option available for a UNIX site.

Sites with IBM SPSS Statistics clients can also use the Production Facility for automated production. For information about using the Production Facility, consult the Core System User's Guide for the IBM SPSS Statistics client application.

This guide is intended for the analysts and IT professionals who will be using the Batch Facility to automate report production. It also contains information for users of earlier versions of IBM SPSS Statistics. All Batch Facility users should read this chapter. Analysts should read . IT professionals should read . Users who upgraded from version 6.1.4 for UNIX should also read .

This guide contains sufficient information for an experienced user of the IBM SPSS Statistics command syntax language to build command syntax files for the Batch Facility. If you are new to IBM SPSS Statistics, you may require additional documentation. For more information about IBM SPSS Statistics documentation, please visit our Web site at http://www.ibm.com/software/analytics/spss/ or contact your sales representative.