Re: PSPP-BUG: Failure to handle an antique SPSS file containing umlauts in variable names

[Müller , Andre]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ben Pfaff [mailto:address@hidden
> Sent: Sunday, February 02, 2014 19:17
> To: Müller, Andre
> Cc: 'address@hidden'
> Subject: Re: PSPP-BUG: Failure to handle an antique SPSS file containing
> umlauts in variable names
> 
> On Thu, Jan 23, 2014 at 05:26:59PM +0000, M?ller, Andre wrote:
> > I stumbled over a rather esoteric problem when dealing with an ooold sav
> file.
> > (Actually, I am led to believe the file was written when the archive
> migrated off it's mainframe...)
> >
> > The export with pspp-0.8.1 fails like this:
> > error: `source.sav' near offset 0x608: Invalid variable name `V_P?NKT'.
> >
> > SavConversion/pspp-export.syntax:2: error: Stopping syntax file
> processing here
> > to avoid a cascade of dependent command failures.
> >
> > The variable name actually is "V_P?NKT", and there are more Umlauts to
> come.
> > Trying to write a testcase, I found:
> > - When I create a file in UNICODE locale, all is well with the export.
> > - When I create a file in localcode locate, the export misinterprets the
> umlauts, but otherwise does the job.
> > - When, using SPSS, I save a copy of the offending file, that file gets
> handled properly.
> > - Just when using the old file as is, the export fails as described above.
> >
> > So, there is an easy workaround for this problem, and it really only
> concerns a way old .sav file version.
> > In other words, this is not too important and it may well not be worth the
> effort of fixing this.
> >
> > But I let you decide :-)
> > I will open a proper bug for this on request.
> >
> > Due to licensing restrictions, I cannot provide a copy of the file,
> > but you can get it here:
> >
> > https://dbk.gesis.org/dbksearch/download.asp?db=E&id=40582
> 
> I apologize for the long delay, but I have now started to look at this.
> I signed up and downloaded the file at this URL, which is named
> ZA2409.sav.  PSPP reads it OK.  It does not contain a variable name
> V_P?NKT.  So, I wonder whether this is the correct file?
> 

Hmm, 
that was the correct file, all right, and the variable ought to be called
v_pünkt, when the import was successful.
(The file is from the age of all upcase Varnames.)
That said, I just retried opening it with psppire, and I do get an error 
message.
I use v0.8.1, which is the most current version in Gentoo.
By the looks of it, it is time to build from git.

I will try the latest upstream version or git and will come back with the 
results.

Thank you,
Andre

> Thanks,
> 
> Ben.