Stat/Transfer for Windows
Stat/Transfer converts datasets between different software formats. It supports a whole range of formats, from ASCII text files to Excel spreadsheets and SAS datasets. It also translates a variety of UNIX and Macintosh files.
Interactive Converting
- We now describe step by step the process of converting a dataset. We will only briefly mention some of the options available during translation.
- Start Stat/Transfer by going to the Start>Programs>Statlab Packages>StatTransfer 6 menus and clicking the Stat/Transfer icon. This brings up a tabbed dialog box.
- With the TRANSFER tab at the front, choose the type of dataset you would like to convert from the pop-up menu labeled "Input File Type" (the question mark button gives information on the selected file type).
- Click on the first "Browse..." button to specify the input file through a standard Windows dialog, or type in the full pathname. If your file does not have a standard three-character extension (e.g. .TXT for ASCII files), use the pop-up menu at the bottom of the screen to show all file types. In the case of a spreadsheet program such as Excel, once the spreadsheet name is entered a new window will pop-up to allow you to select a specific sheet. Only one sheet may be transferred at a time.
- Depending on the type of your original file, Stat/Transfer will do slightly different things with variable names.
- Original File is a dataset
- If the original file is a dataset (e.g. from SAS or SPSS), Stat/Transfer will automatically include the original variable names in the output file.
- Original File is a Spreadsheet
- If the variables are named in the first row of the spreadsheet, Stat/Transfer automatically includes them in the output file. (TIP: For conversion to SAS or SPSS datasets, make sure that the variable names in spreadsheet are 8 characters or less, and that they do not start with a numeral.) If the variables are not named in the first row, Stat/Transfer uses C1, C2, etc. as default variable names.
- Original File is an ASCII file
- ASCII text data must be delimited (i.e. have spaces, tabs, or commas between values on each line). As with spreadsheet files, if there are variable names on the first line of the text file, Stat/Transfer will include those names in the output file. If there are no variable names, the program will use the generic C1, C2, etc.
- In the bottom half of the TRANSFER tab, use the "Output File Type" pop-up menu to choose the type of output file.
- StatTransfer will automatically suggest a name for you based on the name of the input file. To create a different name, use the lower "Browse..." button to specify the name of the output file or type in the full pathname yourself.
- Click on the "Transfer" button to convert the file. You can repeat Steps 2 through 6 to translate multiple files, but must select 'Reset' between each transfer.
- Click the "Exit" button to quit Stat/Transfer.
Other goodies
- Stat/Transfer also allows you to translate only selected variables and/or selected observations.
- Use the VARIABLES tab to select (check) only those variables you wish to convert. You can use the "Select All" and "Unselect All" buttons on the right side of the screen to check or uncheck all of the variables. You can also check/select the form of the variable (i.e. string, long, float, date.)
- Use the OBSERVATIONS tab to select specific observations. At the bottom of the screen there is a line with a where statement. To select variables, complete the where statement with the condition you would like your observations to fulfill. For example, "where age >= 18" would convert only those observations in a file that were 18 years or older. The main window on the left provides help for the where statement.
- Use the OPTIONS (2) tab if the case of complicated or unusual ASCII file formats.
Other resources
Yale University Social Science
Statistical Laboratory
Comments: stathelp@yale.edu
URL: http://www.yale.edu/statlab
lm: February 22, 2003
Copyright © Yale University, 2003