Re: PSPP - added functionalities?

[Ben Pfaff]

It's OK with me to add SPSS extensions to PSPP.

In this case, I wonder whether it would make sense to use existing
syntax, though. Why not write a syntax file that just contains
VARIABLE LABELS and VALUE LABELS for each language? Then you can run
it to switch languages, and the data will still be correct.

Otherwise, I think that it would make sense to use VARIABLE ATTRIBUTE
to annotate each variable with the correct name and labels for each
language. Then there would be no need to extend the file format,
because SPSS supports variable attributes.

On Sat, Dec 7, 2024 at 4:43 AM Elias Tsolis <estatisticseu@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> I know you guys you would like to follow SPSS functionalities. However,
> i cant see any major drawback, if pspp have even more functionalities
> than SPSS. I am not filling this as bug in savannah cause i like dev to
> discuss their opinion if they prefer a spss-exact similar program or a
> pspp like spss but with added functionalities.
>
> Cause I am Greek, I am coming across of datasets that they need to be
> used in greek and english papers. Some times, i must keep datasets that
> variables and its levels are translated into both languages. So, any
> error, or any change that may happen to 1st dataset must happen to the
> 2nd dataset. This means that error may increase when you must pass edits
> in two dataset instead on a single one.
>
> This will no problem for small dataset 10-20 vars. But if you have 200+
> vars and you like to produce from them other 100 vars (means, factors,
> subfactors, dimensions etc.) it is a big problem. Yes, syntax helps but
> each time you must translate the variables english<>greek.
>
> How it can be developed?
>
> A variable language switcher in Variable view that will allow to add
> name, label, & label names in a 2nd language. The active language will
> be used in data analysis.
>
> Now, when saving the file, some problems may arise between using the
> file in spss<>pspp. This means that pspp must develop its unique saving
> scheme eg. .pspp.
>
> And when saving in other formats then it may ask user what only the
> active language will be saved for compatibility reasons with other
> statistical programs.
>
> Yeah, i know, there are other basic problems eg. developing tests. But
> here it is my proposition...
>
>
>
>
>