Overview (COMPUTE command)

COMPUTE creates new numeric variables or modifies the values of existing string or numeric variables. The variable named on the left of the equals sign is the target variable. The variables, constants, and functions on the right side of the equals sign form an assignment expression. For a complete discussion of functions, see Transformation Expressions.

Numeric Transformations

Numeric variables can be created or modified with COMPUTE. The assignment expression for numeric transformations can include combinations of constants, variables, numeric operators, and functions.

String transformations

String variables can be modified but cannot be created with COMPUTE. However, a new string variable can be declared and assigned a width with the STRING command and then assigned values by COMPUTE. The assignment expression can include string constants, string variables, and any of the string functions. All other functions are available for numeric transformations only.

Basic specification

The basic specification is a target variable, an equals sign (required), and an assignment expression.