SPSS Syntax Language Predefined Variables
Part of the SPSS For Dummies Cheat Sheet
Most of the values used in Syntax are from the variables in the data set you currently have loaded and displayed in SPSS. You simply use your variable names in your program, and SPSS knows where to go and get the values for it.
Some other variables are already defined, and you can use them anywhere in a program. Predefined variables, which are called system variables, all begin with a dollar sign ($) and already contain values.
The system variables are listed in the table below:
| Variable Name | What It Is |
|---|---|
| $CASENUM | Current case number. It is the count of cases from the beginning to the current one. |
| $DATE | Current date in international format with two-digit year. |
| $DATE11 | Current date in international format with four-digit year. |
| $JDATE | Count of the number of days since October 14, 1582 (the first day of the Gregorian calendar). |
| $LENGTH | Current page length. |
| $SYSMIS | System missing value. This prints as a period (.) or whatever is defined as the decimal point. |
| $TIME | Number of seconds since midnight October 14, 1582 (the first day of the Gregorian calendar). |
| $WIDTH | Current page width. |
