Converting file formats with pspp convert

The pspp convert command reads SPSS data and viewer files and writes them out in other formats. The basic syntax is:

pspp convert <INPUT> [OUTPUT]

which reads an input file from <INPUT> and writes a copy of it to [OUTPUT]. If [OUTPUT] is omitted, output is written to the terminal.

The following sections describe how pspp convert works with different kinds of files.

Converting .sav, .por, and .sys Data Files

pspp convert can convert SPSS system files (.sav), SPSS portable files (.por), and SPSS/PC+ system files (.sys) into different formats.

If an output file is named, then pspp convert tries to guess the output format based on its extension:

  • .csv
    .txt
    Comma-separated value. Each value is formatted according to its variable's print format. The first line in the file contains variable names.

  • .sav
    .sys
    SPSS system file.

Without an output file name, the default output format is CSV. Use -O <output_format> to override the default or to specify the format for unrecognized extensions.

Converting .spv Viewer Files

pspp convert can convert SPSS viewer files (.spv files) into multiple different formats.

Options

pspp convert accepts the following general options:

  • -O csv
    -O sys
    Sets the output format.

  • -e <ENCODING>
    --encoding=<ENCODING>
    Sets the character encoding used to read text strings in the input file. This is not needed for new enough SPSS data files, but older data files do not identify their encoding, and PSPP cannot always guess correctly.

    <ENCODING> must be one of the labels for encodings in the Encoding Standard. PSPP does not support UTF-16 or EBCDIC encodings in data files.

    pspp show encodings can help figure out the correct encoding for a system file.

  • -c <MAX_CASES>
    --cases=<MAX_CASES>
    By default, all cases in the input are copied to the output. Specify this option to limit the number of copied cases.

  • -p <PASSWORD>
    --password=<PASSWORD>
    Specifies the password for reading an encrypted SPSS system file.

    pspp convert reads, but does not write, encrypted system files.

    ⚠️ The password (and other command-line options) may be visible to other users on multiuser systems.

System File Output Options

These options only affect output to SPSS system files.

  • --unicode
    Writes system file output with Unicode (UTF-8) encoding. If the input was not already in Unicode, then this causes string variables to be tripled in width.

  • --compression <COMPRESSION>
    Writes data in the system file with the specified format of compression:

    • simple: A simple form of compression that saves space writing small integer values and string segments that are all spaces. All versions of SPSS support simple compression.

    • zlib: More advanced compression that saves space in more general cases. Only SPSS 21 and later can read files written with zlib compression.

CSV Output Options

These options only affect output to CSV files.

  • --no-var-names
    By default, pspp convert writes the variable names as the first line of output. With this option, pspp convert omits this line.

  • --recode
    By default, pspp convert writes user-missing values to CSV output files as their regular values. With this option, pspp convert recodes them to system-missing values (which are written as a single space).

  • --labels
    By default, pspp convert writes variables' values to CSV output files. With this option, pspp convert writes value labels.

  • --print-formats
    By default, pspp convert writes numeric variables as plain numbers. This option makes pspp convert honor variables' print formats.

  • --decimal=DECIMAL
    This option sets the character used as a decimal point in output. The default is .. Only ASCII characters may be used.

  • --delimiter=DELIMITER
    This option sets the character used to separate fields in output. The default is ,, unless the decimal point is ,, in which case ; is used. Only ASCII characters may be used.

  • --qualifier=QUALIFIER
    The option sets the character used to quote fields that contain the delimiter. The default is ". Only ASCII characters may be used.