File locations options
Options on the File Locations tab control the default location that the application will use for opening and saving files at the start of each session, the location of the journal file, the location of the temporary folder, the number of files that appear in the recently used file list, and the installation of Python 2.7 that is used by the IBM® SPSS® Statistics - Integration Plug-in for Python.
Startup Folders for Open and Save Dialog Boxes
- Specified folder. The specified folder is used as the default location at the start of each session. You can specify different default locations for data and other (non-data) files.
- Last folder used. The last folder used to either open or save files in the previous session is used as the default at the start of the next session. This applies to both data and other (non-data) files.
These settings apply only to dialog boxes for opening and saving files—and the "last folder used" is determined by the last dialog box used to open or save a file. Files opened or saved via command syntax have no effect on—and are not affected by—these settings. These settings are only available in local analysis mode. In distributed analysis mode connected to a remote server (requires IBM SPSS Statistics Server), you cannot control the startup folder locations.
Session Journal
You can use the session journal to automatically record commands run in a session. This includes commands entered and run in syntax windows and commands generated by dialog box choices. You can edit the journal file and use the commands again in other sessions. You can turn journaling off and on, append or overwrite the journal file, and select the journal filename and location. You can copy command syntax from the journal file and save it in a syntax file.
Temporary Folder
This specifies the location of temporary files created during a session. In distributed mode (available with the server version), this does not affect the location of temporary data files. In distributed mode, the location of temporary data files is controlled by the environment variable SPSSTMPDIR, which can be set only on the computer running the server version of the software. If you need to change the location of the temporary directory, contact your system administrator.
Recently Used File List
This controls the number of recently used files that appear on the File menu.
Python Location
This setting specifies the installation of Python 2.7 that is used by the IBM SPSS Statistics - Integration Plug-in for Python when you are running Python from SPSS Statistics. By default, the version of Python 2.7 that is installed with SPSS Statistics (as part of IBM SPSS Statistics - Essentials for Python) is used. It is in the Python directory under the directory where SPSS Statistics is installed. To use a different installation of Python 2.7 on your computer, specify the path to the root directory of that installation of Python. The setting takes effect in the current session unless Python was already started by running a Python program, a Python script, or an extension command that is implemented in Python. In that case, the setting will be in effect in the next session. This setting is only available in local analysis mode. In distributed analysis mode (requires IBM SPSS Statistics Server), the Python location on the remote server is set from the IBM SPSS Statistics Administration Console. Contact your system administrator for assistance.
To change file locations options
From the menus, choose:
Click the File Locations tab.