How to convert an SPSS Portable file to a SAS Data Set?

SAS can read data originally saved in SPSS if it is in the form of an SPSS Export file. SPSS Export files are created in SPSS with the EXPORT OUTFILE=<filename>. command. If they are created in another system, they are moved (*not* in binary mode) to the system where SAS will be converting them.

Strong: A simpler method for converting among a large number of data base formats is the commercial package DBMS/Copy

Converting SPSS data to a SAS data set (without Value Labels)

In UNIX

libname test '~/sasdata';           * This is where the SAS
                                       Data Set will be written;
libname apple spss 'spss.export';   * This names your SPSS Export file
                                       and uses the SPSS read engine;
proc copy in=apple out=test;
run;

proc print data=test._first_ ;      * This is to see if it works;
run;

proc datasets library=test;  
change _first_=avocado;
run;

In Windows or Macintosh

The two LIBNAME statements must be changed to point to directories and/or files appropriate for the operating system; otherwise, the rest of the statements shown above are exactly the same under SAS for Windows or Macintosh.

SAS for Windows (or SAS-PC) LIBNAME statements:

      libname test 'c:\sasdata';            * This is where the SAS
                                              Data Set will be written;
      libname apple spss 'c:\spss.por';     * This names your SPSS 
                                              Export file and uses the 
                                              SPSS read engine;

      libname test 'Hard_Disk:MySASFiles:'; * This is where the SAS
                                              Data Set will be written;
      libname apple spss 'Hard_Disk:Desktop:spss.por';
                                            * This names your SPSS 
                                              Export file and uses the 
                                              SPSS read engine;

Converting SPSS Value Labels into SAS User-Defined Formats

SPSS Value Labels are stored along with the data in the SPSS Active File (or, in permanent form, in the SPSS Save File)

SAS labels for individual values are called Formats, and are stored in a Format Library which is a SAS Catalog separate from the SAS data set.

USC provides a program to perform this conversion. It is called spss2sas.sas. It may be downloaded from this link by clicking on the filename. An enhanced, revised version may be found on Hebb.. The program will work in SAS for Windows, Macintosh, or UNIX. (It will not work in SPSS-PC, the obsolete DOS version of SPSS.) Once downloaded, you can run the program as shown in the instructions below.

The program will display some windows in which you can specify the information necessary for SAS to convert the SPSS Value Label information into SAS Formats. Before running the SAS program, of course, you must prepare the SPSS Save file to be processed by SAS.

1. The best thing to do first is to choose a name for the set of files that the program will use and create. The name must be 8 characters or less, and must begin with a character. Let's say you choose 'myfirst' as the name. You should use this name when you create the two SPSS files used as input (described below):

          myfirst.por      myfirst.dct
   

   And you should use the same name when prompted within the program's windows for the SAS data set which would become myfirst.ssd01 or myfirst.sd2) and the prefix for the two format-name files which the program creates:

          myfirst.prc      myfirst.fmt
   

   When choosing a name, keep in mind that it should be meaningful -- related to the nature of the data or project with which the files are associated -- and it must be unique, so as not to overwrite or conflict with other files in the directories you use to store files.

   The example below uses the BANK.SAV file which is part of the SPSS distribution.

2. Create a text file with the SPSS Value Label information in it. Each version of SPSS gives you the ability to display and save the Dictionary information for your SPSS data. The spss2sas program uses this information to create the SAS Formats later.

   Once the data are read into an SPSS Active File, you can display and save the Dictionary information, which includes the Value Labels. In the Windows and Macintosh versions, the Active File will appear as data in the spreadsheet-like Data Window. In the character-based UNIX version, the Active File will be noted in the upper (Output) window when it is created.

   Before creating the text file as described here, it is important that you DELETE everything from the Output window just before running the DISPLAY command, or just before clicking the File Info button. This instruction will be repeated below.

   In SPSS for Windows or Macintosh: With the Active File in place (i.e., the data are visible in the Data Window), and the Output Window either deleted or cleared, click Utilities>File Info. This will cause SPSS to run the DISPLAY DICTIONARY. command and list the Dictionary information for the Active File in the Output Window. Alternatively, you can do the same thing by going to a Syntax Window and by typing (and running):

            DISPLAY DICTIONARY.
            EXECUTE.  
   

   To save into a text file, in Release 7, click File>Export, choose the *.txt file type, then enter a file name (e.g., bank.dct) and click OK. In Release 6, click File>Save As, then choose the *.* (All Files) 'type', then enter a file name, then click OK.

   In SPSS for UNIX: Run the DISPLAY DICTIONARY. command as shown in the example above, then go to the upper (Output) window and save the contents into a file with the ESC-9 or F9 key.

3. Save the Active File into a Portable (*.por) file. In the Windows or Macintosh versions, with the Data Window (Active File) active, click File>Save As, then choose the *.por file type, enter a file name (e.g., bank.por) then click OK. In the UNIX version (this also works in the Windows or Macintosh Syntax Window, if you prefer this technique), run:

          EXPORT  OUTFILE='bank.por'.
          EXECUTE.
   

4. Now that you have created the SPSS files needed for input, you are ready to run the SAS program that does the conversion. If you want your own copy of the SAS program, download it from http://euclid.psych.yorku.ca/ftp/sas/macros/spss2sas.sas

5. The conversion program creates a SAS data set, stored in any directory you specify. In addition, the program creates two files that are used during the program's execution and are then saved in the directory you specify, in case you need them in the future.

   bank.prc

   this is the PROC FORMAT statement that creates all the formats necessary to accomodate what were the SPSS value labels. Formats are named consecutively and begin with the prefix letter(s) you specify while the conversion program is running. For example, if you specify 'ab' as the format prefix, the program creates AB1FMT., AB2FMT., AB3FMT., and so forth, until all needed formats are created. If you chose 'temporary' when the program asked you about how to store the formats, then this PROC FORMAT statement stored in 'bank.prc' will need to be run each time you use the SAS data set created by the conversion program. If you chose 'permanent' there is no need to run this PROC FORMAT each time (though it will be necessary for the formats.sct01 or formats.sc2 file that holds the permanent formats to be made available to SAS whenever the SAS data set is accessed. See usage examples below).

   bank.fmt

   This is the FORMAT statement that is used when the SAS data set is being created by the conversion program. Normally, you will not need to use this FORMAT statement as such in the future, but it could be useful as a 'map' to which formats are being used for which variables. Since the format names themselves have to be arbitrary (e.g.supra, AB1FMT., AB2FMT., etc.), this will be the most convenient way to match variables and their format names.

6. Here are some examples of how to use the SAS Data Set and Formats created with the conversion program. The examples assume that you have stored all files in a subdirectory called ~/sasstuff or c:\sasstuff or HardDisk:SasStuff, depending on the operating system. These examples will use the first (UNIX) syntax. If your operating system is Windows or Macintosh, substitute accordingly.

   If you chose 'permanent' formats:

          libname library '~/sasstuff';
          libname storesas '~/sasstuff';
          proc print data=storesas.bank;
          run;
   

   The LIBRARY libref is necessary to point SAS to the permanent formats catalog.

   If you chose 'temporary' formats:

          libname storesas '~/sasstuff';
          %include '~/sasstuff/bank.prc';
          proc print data=storesas.bank;
          run;
   

   The %INCLUDE statement calls in the PROC FORMAT stored in bank.prc. If you prefer, you can use other methods to run the PROC FORMAT statement found in bank.prc. For example, you can copy bank.prc into another file, such as now.sas, then add the LIBNAME and DATA or PROC steps of your choice, then run the now.sas program as a unit. It might look like:

          proc format; 
            value ab1fmt. 
              . . .
          libname storesas '~/sasstuff';
          data subset1; set storesas.bank;
            keep ;
          proc freq; tables ;
          run;