SAV Prep

Saturday, November 1st, 2008 | Analysis, Excel, HTML, PowerPoint, Tools, Verge Consulting, Word

Enhance SPSS files with grids and multi-responses quickly and easily

SPSS Dimensions reporting tools, like Desktop Reporter, can work with complex data types like categorical questions and grids. However, an SPSS .sav file does not have the ability to work directly with these types of variables.

SAV Prep is an application which allows users to create rich variable information for SPSS .sav files, effectively enhancing the data types and the view of the variables in Desktop Reporter while still using the SPSS .sav file for respondent data.

SAV Prep gives users the ability to:

Create categorical variables
Create categorical grid variables
Create numeric grid variables
Create text grid variables
Drag and drop reordering of variables
Hide variables
Edit labels
Save templates to quickly recreate changes on future waves or new datasets

SAV Prep creates a Dimensions metadata file (.mdd) and makes a copy of your original SPSS file (.sav). These files can now be used with any Dimensions product. For example:

Scripted Data Management and Tables using mrStudio
Desktop Reporting using Desktop Reporter
Web-based Reporting using Reporter or mrTables

Create categorical, numeric, or text grid variables.

Create categorical variables as dichtomies or categories.

Save Time and Effort

The rich variable information provided by SAV Prep will make your SPSS files more organized, easier to navigate, and easier to analyze.

SAV Prep has the ability to save your work so you can apply the same changes to another SPSS file. So, when you have another wave of data you can quickly open a template you created previously and have the same modifications done to the new SPSS file.

This saves you significant time and effort as the work you have done is saved in the template and can be re-applied at any time.

Open and Save templates to re-apply changes.

Build Better Reports

The result is a much more useful SPSS file in Dimensions products. As you can see below, Desktop Reporter recognizes all the changes: new categorical variables, new grids, reordered variables, and hidden variables.

Without the enhanced metadata, some reports and charts are very difficult or impossible to build. For example, without numeric grids it’s difficult to display a single pie chart for multiple numeric variables.

In the end, you have a data file which is better prepared for building the tables and reports you want.