If I have the following syntax:

IF (any(1, v1 to v10)) vnew = 1.

SPSS returns a 1 for every case, where there is a 1 between v1 and v10.

However, if I want a 1 returned for every 1, 2, 3 or 4 between v1 and v10 I have to write that line four times for it to work.

Because this does not work:

IF (any(range(1, 4), v1 to v10)) vnew = 1.

Is there a way to do this? Similarly with for example "<1" as the first value or a range of variables, for example something like:

IF (any((<1), v1 to v10)) vnew = 0

or

IF (any((v1 to v10), 1 to 4)) vnew = 1.

does not work.

I tried with the range function as well, but I can't seem to find a way to combine or nest functions.

range requires a variable as the first argument. In general functions can be nested, but these examples don't work. You can do this with a loop, however. (This example is really a doubly nested loop.)

compute inrange = 0.

loop #v=1 to 4.

compute inrange = inrange or any(#v, x1 to x10).

end loop.

If you need to do this a lot, you could use the SPSSINC TRANS extension command with a small Python function. You would just define the function once and then invoke it as needed as the formula in SPSSINC TRANS. I can expand on this if you want to go that way.

Thanks so much, I think the loop will work. I just have to edit some syntaxes for work and have never worked with SPSS. Just trying to pick up context clues and google my way from there. This will help a lot.