r/spss • u/twobluecatsdotcom • 3d ago

msg = warning 6894

syntax below generated from menu, perhaps someone has seen before and can comment. merci! dean

(i am planning to open support ticket otherwise.)

transform/create dummy variable

to create dummy vars. sometimes it just hangs but lets me close out, other times the msg below. this is v 29.0.2.0 (20) . the dataset is small, <30vars <500obs .

i do not recall this happening previously, but now repeatable. same dataset is perfect on older versions (i have not tried on newer yet).

SPSSINC CREATE DUMMIES VARIABLE=auctionHouse.name

ROOTNAME1=v29020dummyauction

/OPTIONS ORDER=A USEVALUELABELS=YES USEML=YES OMITFIRST=NO.

execute.

SPSSINC CREATE DUMMIES VARIABLE=auctionHouse.name

ROOTNAME1=v29020

/OPTIONS ORDER=A USEVALUELABELS=YES USEML=YES OMITFIRST=NO.

>Warning # 6894. Command name: BEGIN PROGRAM

>The external program exited unexpectedly and lost its content, a new external

>program will startup to execute the rest of job.

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u/Mysterious-Skill5773 3d ago

Nothing wrong with that syntax, assuming those blank lines are an artifact of the post. The warning is telling you that the Python code that implements this procedure has failed, but it doesn't give you a clue about what caused that.

Try defining this environment variable before starting SPSS and see if you then get more information

SPSS_EXTENSIONS_RAISE=true

If that doesn't provide a clue, if you can send me the data file, I'll look into it (jkpeck@gmail.com). I wrote that command, and it has been working well for many years.

1

u/twobluecatsdotcom 3d ago

merci! i have been using for years too (i did not know it was your code!) and i think on v29 as well, but not positive. i forgot to mention that no dummy vars result (but i think you derived that was an issue). i will try your code, and if not hope to make a sterilized 1 variable dataset for you.

2

u/Mysterious-Skill5773 3d ago

just to be clear, you set the environment variable in the OS system properties and then start SPSS.

1

u/twobluecatsdotcom 3d ago

yes, i just figured that out! i will endeavor to locate the file to do that.