4.7 Files Used by PSPP

PSPP makes use of many files each time it runs. Some of these it reads, some it writes, some it creates. Here is a table listing the most important of these files:

command file

syntax file

These names (synonyms) refer to the file that contains instructions that tell PSPP what to do. The syntax file's name is specified on the PSPP command line. Syntax files can also be pulled in with INCLUDE (see INCLUDE).

data file

Data files contain raw data in ASCII format suitable for being read in by DATA LIST. Data can be embedded in the syntax file with BEGIN DATA and END DATA: this makes the syntax file a data file too.

listing file

One or more output files are created by PSPP each time it is run. The output files receive the tables and charts produced by statistical procedures. The output files may be in any number of formats, depending on how PSPP is configured.

active file

The active file is the “file” on which all PSPP procedures are performed. The active file contains variable definitions and cases. The active file is not necessarily a disk file: it is stored in memory if there is room.