Python Extension Commands for SPSS Statistics

The IBM® SPSS® Statistics product includes a set of extension commands that are implemented in Python and that provide capabilities beyond what is available with built-in SPSS Statistics procedures. Each extension command has an associated dialog box that generates command syntax for the command and is available from the SPSS Statistics menus. The extension commands can also be run from SPSS Statistics command syntax in the same manner as any built-in command such as FREQUENCIES.

Table 1. Listing of Python extension commands
Menu location Command name Description
Utilities > Format Correlation Matrix FormatCorrelations Provides various options for appearance of correlation matrix.
Data > Case Control Matching FUZZY Performs exact or fuzzy case-control matching.
File > General Open GeneralOpen Opens a data, syntax, or output file from a single dialog box.
Analyze > Regression > Partial Least Squares PLS Estimates partial least squares regression models.
Data > Propensity Score Matching STATS PSM Calculates propensity score matching for cases and controls.
Utilities > Censor Table SPSSINC CENSOR TABLES Censors cells of a pivot table that are based on the values of a test statistic.
Transform > Create Dummy Variables SPSSINC CREATE DUMMIES Creates a set of dummy variables that represent the values of one or more variables and interaction terms.
File > Open > Internet Data SPSSINC GETURI DATA Opens an SPSS, Excel, SAS, or Stata dataset from a web url.
Utilities > Modify Output Titles SPSSINC MODIFY OUTPUT Modifies output titles and other aspects of objects in the Viewer.
Utilities > Modify Table Appearance SPSSINC MODIFY TABLES Modifies the appearance of data cells and row and column labels of pivot tables.
Analyze > Descriptive Statistics > Population Descriptives STATS POP DESCRIPTIVES Calculates Descriptive Statistics for Populations.
Utilities > Process Data Files SPSSINC PROCESS FILES Applies a file of syntax to a set of data files that defines file handles and macros for using in the syntax file, and provides various options for handling viewer and data output.
Edit > Search Data Files SPSSINC PROCESS FILES SEARCH Searches the cases in a set of SPSS Statistics sav data files.
Analyze > Nonparametric Tests > Quade Nonparametric ANCOVA Quade Nonparametric ANCOVA Produces the Quade test of equality of conditional population distributions based on a rank analysis of covariance.
Data > Rake Weights SPSSINC RAKE Calculates weights to control totals in up to 10 dimensions by rim weighting, that is, raking.
Transform > Extended Recode SPSSINC RECODEEX Provides advanced capabilities for recoding.
Utilities > Define Variable Macro SPSSINC SELECT VARIABLES Defines a macro listing variables that are selected according to variable dictionary properties.
Data > Split into Files SPSSINC SPLIT DATASET Splits a dataset into a separate set of sav files according to one or more splitting variables.
Transform > Programmability Transformation SPSSINC TRANS Applies a Python function to the cases in the active dataset and saves the results to one or more new or existing variables.
Analyze > Descriptive Statistics > TURF Analysis > SPSSINC TURF Performs a TURF (Total Unduplicated Reach and Frequency) analysis, which finds groups of response variables that have the highest coverage in a sample.
Data > Adjust String Widths Across Files STATS ADJUST WIDTHS Adjusts the widths of selected string variables across a set of files or datasets.
Analyze > Correlate > Canonical Correlation STATS CANCORR Calculates canonical correlations for two sets of variables.
Analyze > Tables > Define Category Order > STATS CATEGORY ORDER Creates a macro or multiple dichotomy set with a specified variable order.
Analyze > Classify > Cluster Silhouettes STATS CLUS SIL Computes and optionally plots silhouette measures useful in assessing the quality of a cluster analysis.
Graphs > Regression Variable Plots STATS REGRESS PLOT Provides plots that are useful in assessing regression relationships.
Graphs > Compare Subgroups STATS SUBGROUP PLOTS Graphically compares the distributions of a set of variables across a partition of the data.
Utilities > Calculate with Pivot Table STATS TABLE CALC Calculates values by using cells in a pivot table and saves the result in existing or new columns and rows of the table.
Graphs > Weibull Plot STATS WEIBULL PLOT Creates a Weibull probability plot for data on item failures and suspensions.
Utilities > Create Text Output TEXT Creates a block of text in the Viewer for comments and annotations of the output.
File > Make Variable Catalog STATS MAKE CATALOG Builds a dataset of variable information from multiple datasets.
Analyze > Tables > Convert Multiple Category Set STATS MCSET CONVERT Converts a multiple category set to a multiple dichotomy set representing the same information.
Analyze > Classify > Ntile Analysis STATS NTILE ANALYSIS Tabulates the ntile statistics for a variable holding predicted probabilities and produces charts of the distribution statistics.
Extensions > Install Python and R Modules STATS PACKAGE INSTALL Installs or upgrades packages that are needed by extensions or programs but that are not installed with them.

Notes

  • Help for each of the Python extension commands is available by clicking Help on the associated dialog box. The help is not, however, integrated with the SPSS Statistics Help system.
  • 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.
    However, the command syntax help is not integrated with the SPSS Statistics Help system and is not included in the Command Syntax Reference.
    Note: The F1 mechanism for displaying help is not supported in distributed mode.
  • If the menu location that is specified for an extension command is not present in your IBM SPSS Statistics product, then look on the Extensions menu for the associated dialog.
  • The dialogs were created with the Custom Dialog Builder in IBM SPSS Statistics. You can view the design for any of the dialogs and you can customize them using the Custom Dialog Builder. It is available from Extensions>Utilities>Custom Dialog Builder (Compatibility mode).... To view the design for a dialog, choose File>Open Installed from within the Custom Dialog Builder.
  • The implementation code (Python modules) and XML specification files for each of the Python extension commands can be found in the location where extension commands are installed on your computer. To view the location, run the SHOW EXTPATHS syntax command. The output displays a list of locations under the heading "Locations for extension commands". The files are installed to the first writable location in the list.
  • Other extension commands that are not included in IBM SPSS Statistics are available for download from the Extension Hub, accessible from Extensions>Extension Hub. The Extension Hub also displays any updates that are available for the extension commands included with IBM SPSS Statistics in addition to updates for any other extensions that you installed.
  • If you are installing extensions on SPSS Statistics Server, you can use a script to install multiple extensions at once. For information, see Core System > Extensions> Installing local extension bundles > Batch installation of extension bundles in the Help system.