SPSS Statistics

 View Only
Expand all | Collapse all

Save SPSS Data as .dat-file for Mplus - no option to uncheck "write variable names to files"

  • 1.  Save SPSS Data as .dat-file for Mplus - no option to uncheck "write variable names to files"

    Posted Wed November 16, 2022 11:32 AM
      |   view attached

    Hi together,

    I want to save my SPSS file as a .dat-file for Mplus. While Mplus prefers .dat-files without variable names attached, I do not see this option anymore since I use SPSS version 29 (in previous version I had the possibility to uncheck "write variable names to files"). 

    Can I solve this issue and save my file as a .dat-file or do I have to save it as a .csv-file for Mplus?

    Many thanks in advance & best wishes,

    Lennart



    ------------------------------
    Lennart Pape
    ------------------------------

    #SPSSStatistics


  • 2.  RE: Save SPSS Data as .dat-file for Mplus - no option to uncheck "write variable names to files"

    IBM Champion
    Posted Wed November 16, 2022 12:56 PM
    You are probably on a Mac, where SPSS Statistics now uses the native Mac Open/Save dialogs by default.  Go to Edit > Options and specify using the SPSS-specific dialogs, and you will have all those options back.

    --





  • 3.  RE: Save SPSS Data as .dat-file for Mplus - no option to uncheck "write variable names to files"

    Posted Thu November 17, 2022 03:28 AM
      |   view attached
    Dear Jon,

    many thanks for your answer. And sorry, that I missed giving you the important information about using a Mac.
    I specified using the SPSS-specific dialogs but it is still not working (as you can see in the picture I tried out all SPSS windows - however, I am not totally sure if that was what you meant). I also had a look at all the other possible options given.

    ------------------------------
    Lennart Pape
    ------------------------------



  • 4.  RE: Save SPSS Data as .dat-file for Mplus - no option to uncheck "write variable names to files"

    IBM Champion
    Posted Thu November 17, 2022 09:41 AM
    The "Display  native Mac OD file dialogs box is not checked in the picture you posted. 

    --





  • 5.  RE: Save SPSS Data as .dat-file for Mplus - no option to uncheck "write variable names to files"

    Posted Thu November 17, 2022 10:41 AM
    Hi, I'm running into this same issue with Windows SPSS version 29. Will you please advise?
    Thank you,
    Shelley

    ------------------------------
    Shelley Gresko
    ------------------------------



  • 6.  RE: Save SPSS Data as .dat-file for Mplus - no option to uncheck "write variable names to files"

    Posted Thu November 17, 2022 10:55 AM
    Be sure to have unchecked the macOS dialogs checkbox in Edit > Options > General.

    When I do that, open a SAV file, and select File > Export... I see this:

    Then uncheck "Write variable names to file".

    If you are using version 29, then please be sure to check for interim fix 2. 

    Start here.


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



  • 7.  RE: Save SPSS Data as .dat-file for Mplus - no option to uncheck "write variable names to files"

    Posted Thu November 17, 2022 03:29 PM
    Thanks you both for your help.

    Rick, that it also how it looked like in version 28.
    I also followed your suggestion and download the interim fix file but it is still not working. I tried to follow the read-me file but I cannot find the original SPSSClientUI.jar file (my SPSS file structure looks different than described there). I even reinstalled SPSS but I still can't find it (also no results if use the search function).
    Back in version 28 I also had to fix a bug / safety gap and the description was much more precise/correct.

    Thus, I am not sure where I have to put the SPSSClientUI.jar file as I cannot find the named folders and the original file.

    Read-Me-File description:
    3) Locate the file SPSSClientUI.jar. On MacOS it is under subfolder (SPSS Statistics.app/Contents/bin) and then back it up by renaming SPSSClientUI.jar to SPSSClientUI.jar.orig
    4) Copy the interim fix file SPSSClientUI.jar to the subfolder.
    5) Ensure that the installed file has the correct permissions
               chmod 755 SPSSClientUI.jar


    ------------------------------
    Lennart Pape
    ------------------------------



  • 8.  RE: Save SPSS Data as .dat-file for Mplus - no option to uncheck "write variable names to files"

    Posted Thu November 17, 2022 03:30 PM
    Bring up Finder and search for that jar file. Your Mac will find it.

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



  • 9.  RE: Save SPSS Data as .dat-file for Mplus - no option to uncheck "write variable names to files"

    Posted Thu November 17, 2022 03:49 PM
    Just in case Finder or Spotlight don't find it (as it is „hidden“ within the SPSS application bundle) : Locate "SPSS Statistics.app", right click / control click it and from the context menu select „Show Package Contents“. You should then see a „Contents“ folder with a subfolder „bin“ and „SPSSClientUI.jar“ in „bin“.

    The ReadMe file (or at least the part you quoted) appears to omit the context menu part which might make the instruction a little opaque for users unfamiliar with the bundle concept.




  • 10.  RE: Save SPSS Data as .dat-file for Mplus - no option to uncheck "write variable names to files"

    Posted Fri November 18, 2022 03:22 AM

    Dear all, 

    so many thanks for your patience and your support. It is working now1

    Frank, thanks a lot for the tip! The finder did not find it because it was "hidden". After I read your comment I also remembered that I had a same issue some time ago but I totally forgot about the action "Show Package Contents".

     I just want to add for others facing a similar problem that I also had to delete the original file in the folder and not just rename it.

    Many thanks to all of you! 

    Best wishes,
    Lennart



    ------------------------------
    Lennart Pape
    ------------------------------