Extension Commands

In addition to the commands available in the Core system and add-on modules, there are numerous extension commands available for use with IBM® SPSS® Statistics. Extension commands are IBM SPSS Statistics commands that are implemented in the Python ®, R, or Java programming language. For example, Python functions are now part of IBM SPSS Statistics, works with a set of Python extension commands that are available through the Extension Hub.

Starting with SPSS Statistics 31, R 4.0 is a part of the SPSS Statistics. SPSS Statistics includes the IBM SPSS Statistics - Integration Plug-in for R and works with a set of R extensions that are available through the Extension Hub. The R extensions provide capabilities beyond what is available with built-in SPSS Statistics procedures.

Many more extension commands are hosted on the SPSS Statistics collection on GitHub and available from the Extension Hub, which is accessed from Extensions > Extension Hub.

By convention, extension commands that are authored by IBM Corp. have names that begin with SPSSINC or STATS. Complete syntax help for each of the extension commands is available by positioning the cursor within the command (in a syntax window) and pressing the F1 key. It is also available by running the command and including the /HELP subcommand. For example: 
        STATS TABLE CALC /HELP.
The command syntax help is not, however, integrated with the SPSS Statistics Help system and is not included in the Command Syntax Reference. Extension commands that are not authored by IBM Corp. might follow the convention of providing documentation with the HELP subcommand or the F1 key.
Note: The F1 mechanism for displaying help is not supported in distributed mode.

Information on writing your own extension commands is available from the following sources: