I have just started using SPSS 27.

I am unable to run Hayes Process Macro (3.5) to test for mediation/moderation etc.

Previously i had run this on 26, and had no such issues. Unfortunately i only have license for SPSS 27 now.

I am wondering whether anyone may have a solution for this issue.

Attaching the error code below, which appears in the output. After you run this, the program also appears to malfunction. I.e. if you try to close SPSS or open a new file, it doesnt quite do anything. You need to open task manager to terminate the program, and reopen.

>Warning # 206 in column 3. Text: \

>An invalid character has been found on a command.

>Warning # 206 in column 7. Text: \

>An invalid character has been found on a command.

>Warning # 208 in column 35. Text: +

>A text string is not correctly enclosed in quotation marks on the command

>line. Literals may not be continued across command lines without the use of

>the continuation symbol '+'.

>Warning # 226

>The input string is longer than the allowed maximum, 32767, and will be

>truncated. Was the ending quote on a text string omitted?

>Warning # 209

>A truncation error occurred while writing to the command journal file. Please

>check the contents of this file before using it as input to SPSS Statistics.

>Warning # 207 in column 2. Text: \n compute hasw=0.\n compute hasz=0.\n compute jnok=0.\n compute nm1vls=0.\n compute nm2vls=0.\n compute panelgrp=0.\n compute graphixs={"WITH", outnames(1,i), "BY"}.\n compute focpred4={" "}.\n compute intprint=0.\n compute modca

>A '+' was found following a text string, indicating continuation, but the next

>non-blank character was not a quotation mark or an apostrophe.

>Warning # 208 in column 838. Text: /format=A8/space=0.\n end if.\n end if. \n end if.\n /* end E */.\n end loop.\n /* end R */.\n release jmed, intprint,didprint.\nend if.\n!ENDDEFINE.\n\n\nDEFINE PROCESS (vars=!charend('/') !default(xxxxx)/y=!charend('/') !default(xxxxx)/

>A text string is not correctly enclosed in quotation marks on the command

>line. Literals may not be continued across command lines without the use of

>the continuation symbol '+'.

There is a problem with the dialog box in V27 or 27.0.1. It has been reported to Development. It isn't a problem with the macro itself.

In the meantime, Hayes did provide instructions on how to run the macro without the dialog box. That would be the only solution currently. I suggest that you use the Help > Report an Issue menu item to let the team know that you are having the problem. More reports may increase the priority of the fix.

Thank you very much for this Jon. The instructions that you mention-are you referring to what is mentioned in his Mediation, Moderation book?

I will also report the issue. Thanks again.

The book would probably be sufficient (I don't have it), but on his website or in the readme in the download, he gave some instructions. I think you would need the book, though, unless you already know the macro options.

Thank you so much for your effort. I believe it will resolve problem of many of us. Really helpful.

Development has provided a partial fix for this dialog. I have fixed the zip file and posted the updated version here

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AoWcE61g_FAdisIkb7M9uNokKPylyg?e=4QSFfx

Download it and follow the instructions in the zip file for installing and using it.

However, there is still one problem. In some cases, the dialog box generates one or more blank lines in the last block of code. This causes premature command termination.

To get around this, use the Paste button in the dialog. Then go to the very end of the generated code - there might be around 6000 lines of syntax. In that last block, which start with

PROCESS 

delete any blank lines. Then do Run > All (assuming the syntax window was previously empty).