DATASET NAME name [WINDOW={ASIS,FRONT}]. DATASET ACTIVATE name [WINDOW={ASIS,FRONT}]. DATASET COPY name [WINDOW={MINIMIZED,HIDDEN,FRONT}]. DATASET DECLARE name [WINDOW={MINIMIZED,HIDDEN,FRONT}]. DATASET CLOSE {name,*,ALL}. DATASET DISPLAY.
The DATASET
commands simplify use of multiple datasets within a
PSPP session. They allow datasets to be created and destroyed. At
any given time, most PSPP commands work with a single dataset, called
the active dataset.
The DATASET NAME command gives the active dataset the specified name, or if it already had a name, it renames it. If another dataset already had the given name, that dataset is deleted.
The DATASET ACTIVATE command selects the named dataset, which must
already exist, as the active dataset. Before switching the active
dataset, any pending transformations are executed, as if EXECUTE
had been specified. If the active dataset is unnamed before
switching, then it is deleted and becomes unavailable after switching.
The DATASET COPY command creates a new dataset with the specified
name, whose contents are a copy of the active dataset. Any pending
transformations are executed, as if EXECUTE
had been specified,
before making the copy. If a dataset with the given name already
exists, it is replaced. If the name is the name of the active
dataset, then the active dataset becomes unnamed.
The DATASET DECLARE command creates a new dataset that is initially “empty,” that is, it has no dictionary or data. If a dataset with the given name already exists, this has no effect. The new dataset can be used with commands that support output to a dataset, e.g. AGGREGATE (see AGGREGATE).
The DATASET CLOSE command deletes a dataset. If the active dataset is specified by name, or if ‘*’ is specified, then the active dataset becomes unnamed. If a different dataset is specified by name, then it is deleted and becomes unavailable. Specifying ALL deletes all datasets except for the active dataset, which becomes unnamed.
The DATASET DISPLAY command lists all the currently defined datasets.
Many DATASET commands accept an optional WINDOW
subcommand. In the
PSPPIRE GUI, the value given for this subcommand influences how the
dataset’s window is displayed. Outside the GUI, the WINDOW
subcommand
has no effect. The valid values are:
Do not change how the window is displayed. This is the default for DATASET NAME and DATASET ACTIVATE.
Raise the dataset’s window to the top. Make it the default dataset for running syntax.
Display the window “minimized” to an icon. Prefer other datasets for running syntax. This is the default for DATASET COPY and DATASET DECLARE.
Hide the dataset’s window. Prefer other datasets for running syntax.