Copying properties from another file

In brief

Under "Edit data" → "Copy data properties", Statable copies labels, value labels, missing-value codes and the measurement level from an SPSS file (.sav) or a Statable project (.statable) to the columns of the open data. This is what SPSS calls "Copy Data Properties". The data themselves do not change; "Undo" takes the step back.

How it works

• Columns are matched by name (upper and lower case do not matter). What is copied is chosen: label, value labels, missing values, level.
• The preview shows which columns match, what changes in each (now and after) and which columns of the source are missing in your data. These are not created.
• If the type does not fit (text versus number), value labels and missing-value codes of that column are not copied; Statable says so in a note.
• Value labels and missing-value codes replace the column's previous ones. If new codes make previously valid values count as missing, the note gives their number.

For specialists

Commands: VARIABLE LABELS, VALUE LABELS, MISSING VALUES and VARIABLE LEVEL. Text from the source file enters the command only as a string, never as a command.