Good day,

Will need some advice regarding an issue.

Currently working on a related-samples data set and was supposed to use [Compute Variable..] to subtract my pre-test and post-test scores (Scale) to see difference but for some reason my OK and PASTE buttons are greyed out. 

A. I have tried both clicking and using the arrows in the dialog box to create the computation (PRE_TEST - POST_TEST) and directly typing the syntax.
B. I have tried using a new dataset and doing the same thing with older datasets I've worked on, same greyed out OK/PASTE button. 
C. I have tried restarting my SPSS client and my PC to no avail, still greyed out OK/PASTE button.

While it is a simple subtraction operation and I just copy-pasted my data to excel and copy-pasted it back to SPSS, I'm worried that it'll be an inconvenience once I start working on larger datasets. 

Will re-installing SPSS possibly fix it? If so, how do I go on and reinstall SPSS? both of my 2 licenses are in use and I'm afraid to attempt reinstallation as I might get locked out. 

I'm not sure if I missed any prerequisites since I've only been following the activity instructions and given the simplicity of the task, I don't think it is user error on my part. Other functions are working as intended as well - I've previously done a ton of Descriptive Statistics and Compare Means over the previous weeks.

Could anyone point me out in the right direction?


Thanks in advance.

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Karl Michael Gamboa
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#SPSSStatistics

Hi. I am not seeing a disabled OK button. Could you tell me what version of SPSS you are using?

Could you please copy and paste this into a syntax window and make sure that it runs successfully?

data list free /pretest posttest.
begin data.
10 15
09 12
10 11
14 15
end data.

COMPUTE diff=pretest-posttest.
EXECUTE.​

The only times I have seen OK disabled are when I have either not yet entered a new variable name (Target Variable), attempted to define the numeric expression, or have pasted a function in the Numeric Expression panel but haven't finished defining it yet.

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Rick Marcantonio
Quality Assurance
IBM
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Hello Rick, 

Thank you for the quick response - I've managed to work it out roughly an hour after sending the post, I missed entering the new variable! fuzzy mondays I guess.

Thanks a lot!

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Karl Michael Gamboa
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Original Message:
Sent: Mon October 24, 2022 12:37 PM
From: Rick Marcantonio
Subject: OK/PASTE button greyed out - Compute Variable

Hi. I am not seeing a disabled OK button. Could you tell me what version of SPSS you are using?

Could you please copy and paste this into a syntax window and make sure that it runs successfully?

data list free /pretest posttest.begin data.10 1509 1210 1114 15end data.COMPUTE diff=pretest-posttest.EXECUTE.​

The only times I have seen OK disabled are when I have either not yet entered a new variable name (Target Variable), attempted to define the numeric expression, or have pasted a function in the Numeric Expression panel but haven't finished defining it yet.

------------------------------
Rick Marcantonio
Quality Assurance
IBM
------------------------------