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Export as SPSS .sav file

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3 years 10 months ago #198678 by ong
Export as SPSS .sav file was created by ong
Hi,

I searched the forums and there are some, but rather old, entries concerning this topic.
I wonder, if there are any plans, best case - if it's already possible - to export the .sav SPSS format directly.

Why?
Using the free jamovi ( www.jamovi.org/ ) and/or the free jasp ( jasp-stats.org/ ) one can import .sav files. Of course, importing .csv is possible but this looses all the metadata.
In jamovi one can use the Rj editor to execute R code - but this can not be used to manipulate the raw data that has been imported before.

Olaf
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3 years 10 months ago #198682 by DenisChenu
Replied by DenisChenu on topic Export as SPSS .sav file
Near same response than : www.limesurvey.org/forum/can-i-do-this-w...tata-dta-file#198681

Except it's not a plugin , then it's more hard …

Else : did you try ExportR plugin ?

Assistance on LimeSurvey forum and LimeSurvey core development are on my free time.
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The following user(s) said Thank You: ong
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3 years 10 months ago #198691 by ong
Replied by ong on topic Export as SPSS .sav file
Hi,

yes, I did ( forum.jamovi.org/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1282 ). I know (from previous experience) that I can use the R syntax together with the R data to import into R. Unfortunately jamovi (not jasp) provides a feature (Rj) to run R code - but this can not be used to manipulate (set up, I would say) the data in jamovi in the first place.
As jamovi is based on R it should work ... but jonathan (from jamovi) recommended I should ask here at limesurvey ;-)

Olaf
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3 years 10 months ago #198734 by holch
Replied by holch on topic Export as SPSS .sav file
But LS does export to SPSS already, right?

I personally don't use SPSS, so I don't know if there are different files, but from what I understand, your problem is that LS exports the .dat and the .sps file?

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3 years 10 months ago #198738 by jelo
Replied by jelo on topic Export as SPSS .sav file

holch wrote: from what I understand, your problem is that LS exports the .dat and the .sps file?

Most survey tools offer to export data via the SPSS.SAV format.
LimeSurvey offering raw data (dat) and a SPSS script (.sps) and NOT the SAV-Format.

Third party tools often allow to import the SAV-format but haven't implemented SPSS script language.

@ong: You can use PSPP to create a SAV file. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PSPP

The meaning of the word "stable" for users
www.limesurvey.org/forum/development/117...ord-stable-for-users
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3 years 10 months ago #198746 by ong
Replied by ong on topic Export as SPSS .sav file
Hi,

thanks for your replies. I guess it' simply not possible at the moment.
I found this link ( github.com/tiamo/spss ) here in the forum and if that script is what it's proposing I can not see a reason why LS does not _additionally_ offer the .sav export.
I am a big fan of the scripting languages/syntax (SPSS, R) and this should definitely be kept. But as jelo mentioned - many other programs import .sav. By just importing plain data and not being able to run the script all that metadata get's lost - or has to be added by hand (again). And this is very frustrating and prone to errors.
So LS, please also implement .sav.
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3 years 10 months ago - 3 years 10 months ago #198748 by DenisChenu
Replied by DenisChenu on topic Export as SPSS .sav file

ong wrote: I can not see a reason why LS does not _additionally_ offer the .sav export.

Developer time ? Surely …

Assistance on LimeSurvey forum and LimeSurvey core development are on my free time.
I'm not a LimeSurvey GmbH member, professional service on demand , plugin development .
I don't answer to private message.
Last edit: 3 years 10 months ago by DenisChenu.
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3 years 10 months ago #198752 by jelo
Replied by jelo on topic Export as SPSS .sav file

ong wrote: I guess it' simply not possible at the moment.

You don't need to guess. There is no SAV Export implemented in LimeSurvey.

I found this link ( github.com/tiamo/spss ) here in the forum and if that script is what it's proposing I can not see a reason why LS does not _additionally_ offer the .sav export.

Adding thirdpartycode to LimeSurvey comes with strings attached.
Reason 1: The code contains bugs too: github.com/tiamo/spss/issues
Reason 2: Non of the developers has a SPSS software running (as far as I know).

By just importing plain data and not being able to run the script all that metadata get's lost - or has to be added by hand (again). And this is very frustrating and prone to errors.

Offering a SYNTAX-File is acceptable. PSPP allows you to run the SYNTAX file and you can export a SAV.

Feel free to submit a featurerequest for a SAV-Export file. But without a sponsor (coding time or money) I don't that happen in the next three years.

The meaning of the word "stable" for users
www.limesurvey.org/forum/development/117...ord-stable-for-users
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3 years 10 months ago - 3 years 10 months ago #198753 by ong
Replied by ong on topic Export as SPSS .sav file
Hi,

yes, developer time ok. money ok. Still, as SPSS is still big in the market, it might be an idea...
@jelo - that is a good idea to import into pspp first and then export as sav and then work with other software and use that sav file.
Thanks for this suggestion.
Last edit: 3 years 10 months ago by ong.
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3 years 10 months ago #198756 by ong
Replied by ong on topic Export as SPSS .sav file
Hi jelo,
this was gold:
"Offering a SYNTAX-File is acceptable. PSPP allows you to run the SYNTAX file and you can export a SAV."
It works perfectly. Thanks a lot.
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3 years 10 months ago #198759 by ong
Replied by ong on topic Export as SPSS .sav file
Hi,

I needed a possibility to get Limesurvey results into .sav format to import it into other applications, namely jamovi ( www.jamovi.org/ ) and jasp ( jasp-stats.org/ )
The tip from jelo here was gold as written before: I wanted to report, that this works perfectly.

Solution in steps:
1. Export your results/data from Limesurvey as SPSS (syntax and data file)
2. Use PSPP ( www.gnu.org/software/pspp/ ) and open the syntax file
3. you will probably need to adjust the source in the syntax file:
Code:
/FILE='survey_99999_SPSS_data_file.dat'
will probably need your path:
Code:
/FILE='c:\some\path\survey_596521_SPSS_data_file.dat'
4. mark all lines in the syntax file, select RUN ALL. This will import your data, and set all labels, datatype etc.
5. Still in PSPP save the data as "pspp format" (which is SPSS .sav)
6. open jamovi ( www.jamovi.org/ ) /jasp ( jasp-stats.org/ ) and open the file
7. be happy about your data and it's meta data
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3 years 10 months ago - 3 years 10 months ago #198767 by ong
Replied by ong on topic Export as SPSS .sav file
Hi,

me again, I took the time to create a video demonstration:

datenbank-projekt.de/index.php/download_file/592/0

(sorry, can't embed here, MP4, 2,5 MB, 2 Min 20 Sec)
Last edit: 3 years 10 months ago by ong. Reason: tried to embed video
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