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  • 1.  OK/PASTE button greyed out - Compute Variable

    Posted Mon October 24, 2022 10:37 AM

    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.



    ------------------------------
    Karl Michael Gamboa
    ------------------------------

    #SPSSStatistics


  • 2.  RE: OK/PASTE button greyed out - Compute Variable

    Posted Mon October 24, 2022 12:38 PM
    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.

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

    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: OK/PASTE button greyed out - Compute Variable

    Posted Tue October 25, 2022 01:15 AM
    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!

    ------------------------------
    Karl Michael Gamboa
    ------------------------------

    Original Message